Kisumu Governor Prof. Peter Anyang’ Nyong’o has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to strengthening early childhood education by flagging off a KSh 25 million consignment of food supplies aimed at enhancing the County’s school feeding program for Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners.
Speaking during the flag-off ceremony on Tuesday, Governor Nyong’o emphasized that ECDE is the cornerstone of the entire education system and declared that meaningful learning cannot be achieved without laying a strong foundation at the early stages.
“We are gathered here once again to express our commitment to laying a firm foundation in education. I wish to reiterate that Early Childhood Education is the bedrock of learning across the world,” said the governor.
The county boasts 653 ECDE centres , 596 embedded in primary schools and 57 stand-alone public facilities , serving a total of 43,549 children, nearly evenly split between boys and girls.
The Kisumu County Government launched the ECDE feeding program in 2015 to improve access, retention, and completion rates in early learning, particularly among children from vulnerable households in rural areas and urban informal settlements.
“This intervention is aimed at addressing food insecurity, malnutrition, and stunting key barriers to learning and ensuring a 100% transition rate through proper nutrition that complements early education,” Nyong’o noted.
The flagged-off food package includes rice worth KSh 16.3 million, beans worth KSh 6.5 million, and cooking oil valued at KSh 2.2 million. The supplies are expected to feed nearly 50,000 learners across public ECDE centers in the county.
In addition to the feeding initiative, Governor Nyong’o announced that learning materials worth KSh 19 million will be distributed to all ECDE centers in the coming weeks. This follows an earlier disbursement in the 2024/2025 financial year of 3,500 bags of rice, 1,080 bags of beans, and 700 tins of cooking oil.
Referencing Article 53 of the Constitution, the governor underscored the County’s legal obligation to provide free and compulsory basic education, along with health and nutrition, as part of a holistic approach to child development.
“Early childhood is when the brain develops most rapidly. We must ensure our children receive adequate nutrition, health care, stimulation, and education to secure their future,” he added.
Nyong’o called for collaborative efforts from political leaders, religious groups, NGOs, and individuals to support early learning in the county.
He concluded by commending the Department of Education, under CECM John Awiti, for spearheading the program and delivering impactful results.
“I wish to sincerely thank the Department of Education for a job well done,” he said.
