Counties continue to register tangible progress in Early Childhood Development and Vocational Training.
According to the Council of Governors (CoG), pre-primary enrolment has grown by 3.88% to 2.95 million learners in 2025, supported by 48,721 ECDE centres nationwide.
CoG says in the past year alone, counties constructed over 5,950 classrooms and have employed more than 50,104 ECDE teachers, building the function from the ground up.
“Holistic programming integrating nutrition, WASH and climate resilience is strengthening early learning outcomes,” CoG said on Friday, February 27, 2026.
The governors body, however, noted that the pre-primary function was never properly costed at transfer, leaving a significant funding gap.
It noted that against a minimum annual requirement of KSh 22.08 billion, counties allocated approximately KSh 6.81 billion in FY2024/25.
“Overlaps between National Polytechnics and County Vocational Training Centres at craft and artisan levels are also creating unhealthy competition and undermining grassroots training,” CoG noted.
To address the challenge, the Council of Governors has urged the Senate to among others bridge the ECDE funding gap and reconsider the proposed Early Childhood Education Index in the revenue-sharing formula.
CoG also wants the Senate to rationalize the TVET sector, and amend the Basic Education Act to clarify counties’ role in registration, management and quality assurance of pre-primary education.
