By Christopher Omondi
Residents of Kisumu are urgently calling upon the county government to address the glaring infrastructure deficit in Early Childhood Education (ECE). This comes as enrollments in both public and private institutions soar, yet the necessary facilities remain woefully inadequate. Madam Wilkister Odera, the county director of Early Childhood Development, has openly acknowledged this crisis, stating, “We have a significant infrastructure deficit of 1261 classrooms and 611 toilets across the county.” Given the teacher-learner ratio, which currently sits at an alarming 1:56, well above the recommended 1:25, the concerns raised by residents are entirely justified.
Community member Alfred Oruoch voiced his worries, emphasizing the health implications for children, especially within private schools. He said, “Most latrines are not suited for our children since most institutions have been established in churches or temporary mabati structures that do not plan for the long term.”
The situation is exacerbated by the vulnerability of the lake basin region to erratic weather patterns, which have led to many schools being repurposed as internally displaced persons (IDPs) camps or submerged in floodwaters. “Boreholes are contaminated, classroom walls have cracks, and even digital devices and textbooks are destroyed,” Oruoch lamented.
In response to the urgent need for support, a new feeding program has been introduced in the county’s early childhood learning institutions. This initiative has garnered attention from organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations, which backs the school meal policy and promotes climate-resilient farming practices.
Furthermore, the county government is making strides to enhance the quality of early childhood learning. The adoption of the Early Childhood Education Act No. 3 of 2021 aims to establish standards that ensure better teacher training and employment. “We currently have 87,711 children enrolled across 653 public and 815 private pre-primary institutions, and the infrastructure deficit cannot be overstated,” added Madam Wilkister Odera.
