Families in Lindi Ward, Kibra Nairobi, are facing challenges accessing affordable early childhood education, with parents forced to take their children to facilities in neighbouring wards or enrol them in informal learning centres they may struggle to afford.
The absence of a public Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centre in the ward has raised concerns about access to basic education for young children in one of Nairobi’s densely populated informal settlements.
The issue was raised by Lindi Ward MCA Ochieng Jera, who sought a statement from the chairperson of the Nairobi County Assembly Committee on Children, Early Childhood Education and Vocational Training.
Jera wants the committee to explain why Lindi Ward has up to now no public ECDE facility despite the high Population demand.
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Parents face additional costs
The lack of a public ECDE centre means some parents have to take their children outside the ward to access early learning, adding to the cost and inconvenience of getting them to school.
Others are left to consider informal and often poorly equipped learning centres, which may be difficult for low-income families to afford.
“Mr Speaker, this has forced pupils and parents to travel long distances in other wards to get education on early learning or enroll in informal and often poorly equipped primary centres that their parents can hardly afford,” Jera said.
For households already struggling with the cost of living, these challenges can limit access to early education and widen inequalities before children even begin primary school, the area MCA said. The situation has also raised questions about whether public ECDE facilities across Nairobi County are distributed according to the population and needs of individual wards.
Assembly seeks answers on ECDE distribution
In his request, Jera asked the committee to provide a list of ECDE centres across Nairobi County, indicating their respective wards and current status.
He also wants the committee to explain how the county maps the distribution of ECDE facilities against population figures in different wards.
The information is expected to help establish whether areas with large populations, particularly informal settlements, have adequate public facilities to meet the demand for early childhood education.
“Mr Speaker, am requesting a report on whether the county government has plans to partner with private sectors and non-state agencies towards addressing the dire need for ECDE facilities in the county for greater public good,”
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The committee has also been asked to clarify whether the county government has plans to establish additional ECDE centres and whether it intends to work with private-sector players and non-state agencies to address the shortage.
Such partnerships could form part of efforts to expand access to early learning, particularly in areas where public facilities are lacking.
Committee given two weeks to report the chairperson of the Committee on Children, Early Childhood Education and Vocational Training asked for two weeks to prepare a report on the matter.
The report is expected to address the concerns raised over the absence of a public ECDE centre in Lindi Ward and provide information on the distribution and status of facilities across Nairobi County.
Its findings could help clarify the county government’s plans for expanding early childhood education services and addressing disparities between wards.
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