KIAMBU, County Assembly
Long before examination results and graduation ceremonies define a child's academic journey, the foundation is laid in modest classrooms filled with songs, crayons, and first lessons in sharing.
It is in these early spaces that Kiambu County is now seeking to anchor its future, through the proposed Kiambu County Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Bill, 2025.
That vision came into sharp focus yesterday during a public participation forum that brought together educators, community leaders, civil society actors, and child-rights advocates.
The gathering was less about technical clauses and more about a shared understanding: that early childhood education is not a peripheral service, but a public responsibility with lifelong consequences.
Participants welcomed the Bill, sponsored by Hon. Francis Koina, MCA (Kiambu Township), describing it as a long-overdue step toward recognising the central role of early learning in social and economic development.
The forum was chaired by Hon. Lawrence Mwaura, MCA (Ting'ang'a) the Chairperson of the County Assembly's Education, Science and Research Committee, who presided over discussions that blended policy review with lived experiences from ECDE centres across the county.
As the conversation unfolded, it became clear that support for the Bill was accompanied by a deep desire to see it strengthened.
Stakeholders emphasised that legislation affecting children must move beyond intent and into implementation. Nowhere was this more evident than in discussions on the ECDE feeding programme, which participants described as essential to learning, health, and dignity.
For many children, stakeholders observed, the meal received at an ECDE centre may be the most consistent source of nutrition in their day.
Without clear standards on meal frequency, portion sizes, and nutritional value, they warned, the promise of early learning risks being undermined by hunger and inequality.
Participants urged the county to embed minimum feeding standards in law and to work closely with nutritionists and public health officers to ensure meals support healthy growth and concentration.
Stakeholders noted that governance failures can abruptly interrupt a child's learning and sense of stability. The discussion underscored concerns around land ownership and overlapping mandates between the national and county governments.
To prevent disruptions, participants proposed that ECDE centres be built on county-owned land wherever possible. Where national government land is used, they called for strict legal clarity to safeguard learning spaces from future disputes.
Governance challenges extended beyond land. Stakeholders highlighted duplication of roles between county and municipal directors, cautioning that blurred lines of authority weaken accountability and slow service delivery.
They called for a clear coordination framework to ensure that leadership within the ECDE sector is coherent, efficient, and responsive.
Yet, amid policy and structural concerns, the most emotive discussions centred on the people who occupy ECDE classrooms every day—the caregivers.
Participants spoke of a workforce entrusted with children's earliest emotional and cognitive development, yet often undervalued and underpaid. They argued that no ECDE reform can succeed without recognising caregivers through fair remuneration, dignified working conditions, and long-term retention measures.
Civil society input further shaped the conversation. Bunge Mashinani submitted a memorandum identifying 17 clauses requiring review, including a proposal to include civil society representation in ECDE governance structures.
Such inclusion, stakeholders argued, would strengthen accountability and ensure community voices remain central to decision-making.
The organisation also raised concerns about learner welfare during periods when ECDE centres are temporarily closed or suspended. Participants warned that without clear guidelines on learner transfers, continuity of learning, and parental communication, children are left vulnerable at moments when stability matters most.
Despite the breadth of concerns raised, the mood of the forum remained hopeful rather than adversarial. Stakeholders repeatedly noted that the Bill reflects a genuine commitment by Kiambu County to invest in its youngest citizens. What they sought was not a rejection of the law, but its refinement.
In closing, Hon. Mwaura assured participants that the views shared would meaningfully inform the legislative process, reinforcing the importance of public participation as a cornerstone of democratic governance.
As the ECDE Bill 2025 moves forward, Kiambu County stands at a defining moment.
With thoughtful amendments and sustained political will, the legislation has the potential to do more than regulate early learning it could protect childhood, restore dignity to caregivers, and secure a future shaped not by chance, but by deliberate investment in the earliest years