Sunday, 18 May, 2025
Senate committee on education conducts oversight visit to kitui county on ECDE and TVET implementation
Kitui CountyFriday, May 16, 2025
The Senate Standing Committee on Education today conducted a county oversight visit in Kitui County to assess the implementation of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
The Committee commenced its visit with a consultative meeting with Kitui Governor H.E. Dr. Julius Malombe and senior officials from the Department of Education. The discussions focused on the status of ECDE and TVET across the County, funding priorities, and ongoing infrastructure development.
Governor Malombe reported that Kitui County has a total ECDE enrolment of 50,403 learners—comprising 25,705 boys and 24,698 girls. Since the start of devolution, the County has constructed 1,293 ECDE classrooms across its 1,427 public primary schools at a cost of KShs 1.43 billion. The total indicative cost of achieving full ECDE infrastructure—comprising classrooms, sanitation facilities, and water tanks—is estimated at KShs 2.54 billion.
On learning resources, the Governor noted that Kitui employs both Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD)-approved materials and locally developed teaching aids. The annual cost per learner for teaching and learning materials stands at KShs 2,301.96. However, the ECDE school meals programme remains unfunded due to its unsustainable annual cost of KShs 253.9 million.
The Committee later visited St. Stephen’s Comprehensive School and Ithiani Vocational Training Centre to inspect learning conditions, equipment, and curriculum delivery. The team interacted with learners and instructors to understand operational challenges and success stories on the ground.
The Committee commended Kitui County for its significant investment in ECDE infrastructure and commitment to quality education. However, they raised concern over the gap in sanitation and feeding programmes, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships and increased national support to enhance access and sustainability of ECDE and vocational training.
The oversight visit is part of the Senate’s nationwide effort to monitor the delivery of devolved education functions and promote equity and quality in foundational and technical education across all counties.