Divided opinion has emerged over who between the National Government and counties should manage Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE).
Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) had in its recommendation to the Presidential Working Party on Education Reform (PWPER) proposed that the National Government takes over the function.
Kiambu County Governor Kimani Wamatangi however differs. He says under the 2010 Constitutional dispensation, ECDE is a devolved function that cannot in any way be supervised by the National Government.
He avers that there is need to have conditional grants put within a proper framework that will ensure ECDE teachers are paid salaries.
As a county, he contends, Kiambu is in fact prepared to roll out modern ECDE centers by the end of the year with 120 classrooms earmarked for completion.
“Our dream is to have all schools equipped with modern ECDE centres by the year 2027,” said Wamatangi who spoke while launching the county’s Uji Feeding Program.
KNUT Deputy National Treasurer Kennedy Nyamwanda says their proposal and recommendation to the PWPER was to have ECDE managed by the National Government, a proposition vehemently opposed Kiambu Assembly majority leader Godfrey Waiyaki and Chief Whip Nelson Munga.
Tom Kimani & Mary Muthoni
