Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE)

Introduction

The County Government of Nakuru is committed to providing quality Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) by enhancing access to education for young learners.

The Constitution of Kenya 2010 and Basic Education Act 2013 provide for free and compulsory basic Education. Through these legal provisions, Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) has been integrated as part of basic education and was devolved to County Governments in February 2012.

With 2003 ECDE Centers across the county—1003 public and 1000 private, we aim to foster a strong foundation for lifelong learning.

Mandate

🎒 Providing pre-primary education and facilities
🏫 Capacity building of ECDE teachers
🍲 Coordination of all ECDE curriculum and co-curriculum activities
👩‍🏫 Support of early childhood nutrition and health through school feeding program
📈 Monitoring and evaluation of ECDE programs
🎓 ECDE data management
🔤 ICT integration in ECDE

🎓 Holistic pre-primary education for sustainable development

🏫To provide, promote and coordinate the delivery of quality and relevant pre-primary education services for lifelong learning and sustainable development.

Equity and Equality
Customer focused
Professionalism.
Integrity
Transparency and Accountability
Team work
Creativity and Innovativeness

List of ECDE Centers

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Statistical ECDE Enrollment Summary

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Success Stories (Bursary)

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Programmes/Initiatives

“Lishe na Mama.” (ECDE School Feeding Program)

In line with H.E. Governor Susan Kihika’s manifesto and the National Pre-Primary Policy on Health and Nutrition, the County Government of Nakuru is implementing a School Feeding Program named “Lishe na Mama”. This initiative provides a cup of fortified uji (porridge) daily to learners in public Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers.

Before the “Lishe na Mama” program, enrollment was about 59,000, but has now risen to nearly 65,000, with further growth expected. The program has also led to the reopening of previously closed centers and created employment opportunities through the hiring of cooks.
Implementation Details:
• Currently implemented in 1,061 public ECDE centers, serving over 64,000 pupils.
• The cost is Ksh16 per pupil per day, fully funded by the County Government—no parental contributions required.
• 8 modern kitchens have been constructed, each equipped with energy-saving jikos, water tanks, storage cabinets, and worktops to serve nearby schools, with plans to expand into a lunch program.
Community Involvement:
A public participation forum was held to engage key stakeholders, including parents, ECDE teachers, KEPSHA, KNUT, Ministry of Education, NGAO, Public Health officers, and MCAs. The forum aimed to foster community ownership of the program, in line with Article 1 of the Kenyan Constitution.
Pilot Phase:
The program was piloted in Njoro Sub-County, The pilot aimed to identify challenges and inform the full-scale rollout across the county.
Conclusion:
The “Lishe na Mama” Uji Program is a transformative initiative in Nakuru County. It has boosted ECDE enrollment, improved child nutrition, revived dormant centers, and empowered communities.