Senators slam counties over failure to prioritise ECDE feeding plan
By William Muthama, August 5, 2025Senators sitting in the Senate Standing Committee on Education have criticised county governments for sidelining Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) learners in the implementation of the pre-primary school feeding programme.
In a session held at Parliament Buildings on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, the committee reviewed a draft model presented by the Council of Governors and found it lacking. Committee Chairperson Senator Betty Montet said the document failed to reflect the needs of pre-primary learners and had instead shifted focus to older pupils in primary schools.
“This programme has nothing to do with ECDE learners,” Montet said. “It has been overtaken by a commercial approach designed for primary schools.”
Senators demand realignment
The committee warned that the neglect of ECDE learners undermines the objective of the feeding initiative, which was meant to address hunger and malnutrition in Kenya’s youngest learners.
Senator Margaret Kamar urged counties to avoid duplicating national government programmes, stressing that pre-primary learners must remain the core beneficiaries.
Senators Catherine Mumma, Seki Lenku, and Jones Mwaruma supported the call for a complete review of the model and demanded counties go back to the drawing board to align their proposals with the needs of ECDE children.
They accused some counties of using the programme to pursue commercial interests rather than public welfare.
Senate faults absentee governors
The committee also raised concerns over a rising trend of county governors skipping scheduled meetings with the Senate. Chairperson Montet cited repeated no-shows by Kirinyaga and Samburu governors, saying absenteeism was delaying critical oversight.
To address the issue, the committee proposed requiring written responses at least seven days before meetings and recommended shifting committee sittings to Mondays to make it easier for governors to appear.
“This committee must not be crippled by absence and avoidance,” Montet warned. “There must be seriousness in our engagements, especially where children’s welfare is involved.”
The committee is expected to submit its findings and recommendations to the Senate in the coming days.