Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi with ECDE learners during the launch of free learning material at the County Headquarters in Kiambu Town on January 6, 2026.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi yesterday initiated the provision of free stationery to all county-owned early childhood development education (ECDE) centres as he seeks to make public nursery schools more attractive and competitive.
While launching the programme at the county headquarters in Kiambu Town, Wamatangi said the provision of exercise books and other learning materials to the 524 public ECDE centres is part of the county government’s initiatives to make early childhood education free.
“We recognise the importance of early childhood education, but we cannot say that public nursery schools have been offering the quality needed, which has eventually short-changed children from less privileged families. That is the challenge we have been addressing,” Wamatangi said.
All the 42,000 ECDE learners will receive five free 96-page exercise books covering essential subjects, as well as pens, while interactive teaching tools will also be provided to teachers.
Besides the free learning materials, the county has, in the past year, been offering a comprehensive feeding programme in which children receive a cup of uji daily and three boiled eggs per week.
On Thursdays, each learner also receives a packet of milk under the “Maziwa Freshi na Wamatangi” initiative.
To provide learners with a conducive learning environment, the county has overhauled 512 ECDE centres by constructing modern facilities comparable to those found in private kindergartens.
Each centre, which rivals private academies, features two modern classrooms for PP1 and PP2, an office for administrative use, separate ablution blocks for teachers and learners, and a well-equipped play area for children.
The Governor also announced that a bill has been drafted to entrench sweeping reforms in early childhood development and education into law, a move aimed at protecting the gains made by his administration from possible reversal by future governments.
Wamatangi announced the flagging off of free learning materials for ECDE learners across the county, revealing that the proposed Kiambu County Early Childhood Development and Education Act, 2025 is currently before the County Assembly.
The Bill seeks to mainstream and institutionalise the transformation of the ECDE sector by providing a clear legal and policy framework for the management and development of nursery school education in Kiambu.
“Our goal is to make these reforms permanent. We do not want a situation where every new administration comes in and abandons what has already been built. This law will ensure that quality ECDE services are not a matter of goodwill, but a legal obligation,” Wamatangi said.
According to the Governor, the proposed legislation will regulate ECDE services and facilities across the county, while making it mandatory for any administration in office to provide quality infrastructure, structured feeding programmes, and adequate learning materials for all ECDE learners.
The proposed ECDE Act, 2025, he said, is expected to entrench these interventions into law, ensuring continuity, accountability, and sustained investment in early childhood education.
Once enacted, the legislation will make Kiambu one of the counties with a comprehensive legal framework dedicated to ECDE, reinforcing the county’s push to position early learning as a long-term development priority rather than a short-term policy choice.
Speaking at the Kiambu County headquarters during the flag-off ceremony, Wamatangi dispatched lorries loaded with exercise books covering the five core learning areas, alongside pencils and rubbers, destined for ECDE centres in all wards.
The event was attended by Members of the County Assembly and senior county officials and coincided with the opening of the first school term.
“No child should be sent home because their parents cannot afford an exercise book or a pencil. By supplying these materials, we are easing the burden on parents and allowing children to focus on learning from the very first day of school,” Wamatangi said.
The distribution of free learning materials is expected to significantly reduce education-related costs for households, particularly low-income families, while promoting equity and improved learning outcomes at the foundational level.
Wamatangi said the initiative forms part of a broader, deliberate strategy to strengthen early learning as the backbone of the county’s education system.
Since taking office, the Governor said his administration has prioritised ECDE as a key pillar of education reform, rolling out measures aimed at improving access, quality, and learning environments across the county.
Alongside the release of learning materials, the Governor also flagged off lorries transporting brand-new furniture for the county’s newly constructed 512 ECDE centres.
The furniture, comprising desks, chairs, and tables, is expected to support the rapid expansion and modernisation of ECDE learning spaces, replacing makeshift facilities and creating child-friendly classrooms.
“We are investing heavily in infrastructure because the learning environment matters. A safe, well-equipped classroom gives our children dignity and sets them up for success as they progress through the education system,” Wamatangi said.