Author: Faith Mumo

UNICEF Country Director to Kenya, Shaheen Nilofer, alongside Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr., led a pivotal meeting today aimed at exploring potential collaboration to advance Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) in Makueni County. The discussions centered on strengthening efforts to improve the quality of education and care for young learners.

Makueni County has made remarkable progress over the past two years in transforming its ECDE sector, with a strong focus on infrastructure enhancement, teacher development, and learner support. The county has excelled in providing essential teaching and learning materials, fostering talent development, and ensuring the health and nutritional well-being of ECDE learners. Notably, the county’s health department has successfully reached 1,298 ECDE centers between January and June 2024, representing a 93% coverage rate.

During the meeting, both parties explored key areas for future collaboration. These included promoting health and nutrition initiatives, introducing school feeding programs, and providing digital learning gadgets to enhance modern learning methods. Additionally, the introduction of kitchen gardens was discussed as a way to diversify the learners’ diets, alongside efforts to improve water sanitation, hygiene interventions, and social protection programs for young children.

Ms. Nilofer praised Makueni for its commitment to empowering teachers and building a robust ECDE infrastructure. She emphasized the importance of early childhood interventions, noting that catching children at this formative stage is critical for long-term success. “Makueni has set an excellent example with what it has achieved so far,” Nilofer remarked, commending the county for prioritizing early learning and expressing confidence in the potential for future collaboration.

UNICEF leadership further acknowledged the county’s progress and expressed interest in supporting its digital learning platforms, which aim to increase parental engagement in the educational process. The exchange of best practices and the scaling of successful initiatives were highlighted as key opportunities for collaboration.

Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr. reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to strengthening ECDE in the county and welcomed UNICEF’s support in expanding these efforts. “We are committed to giving our young learners the best foundation possible,” he said, expressing optimism about the long-term impact of these partnerships. Governor Kilonzo also underscored Makueni’s readiness to work closely with UNICEF in implementing the proposed initiatives to further uplift the county’s early childhood education landscape.

The meeting concluded on a hopeful note, with both leaders expressing their shared vision of creating a brighter future for Makueni’s youngest learners through targeted support and innovative programs.