Baringo Governor Benjamin Cheboi/File
Baringo County spends about Sh1.7 million to construct one Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centre, Governor Benjamin Cheboi has told the Senate.
According to Cheboi, the amount comprises Sh1.2 million for one classroom, Sh300,000 for a three-door pit latrine, Sh100,000 for the installation of a 5,000-litre water tank and Sh100,000 for a set of furniture.
“The County Government allocates approximately Sh1.2 million for the construction of each classroom, subject to variations based on locality and site conditions. In addition, the construction of the toilet block is estimated at Sh300,000, while the provision of furniture and installation of a 5,000-litre water tank cost approximately Sh100,000 each,” Cheboi said.
He added: “However, the County Quantity Surveyor (QS) has estimated the combined cost of constructing the classroom and toilet block at Sh1,631,586.40.”
The proposed ECDE classroom measures approximately 7.2 metres by 7.5 metres, in line with specifications provided by the County Public Works Office.
The design is intended to accommodate up to 25 learners and provide a safe, child-friendly and conducive learning environment.
Key features include adequate ventilation, sufficient natural lighting, accessibility ramps, storage shelves and the use of durable construction materials.
“The project also incorporates a standard three-door toilet block with separate facilities for boys, girls and teachers to promote proper sanitation and hygiene within the ECDE centre,” Cheboi said.
He added: “Furthermore, the County Government plans to allocate additional budgetary resources for the procurement of play equipment and the levelling of playgrounds to enhance the safety and quality of learning environments in ECDE centres.”
The governor made the remarks in a report submitted to the Senate Committee on Education, which invited him last month to discuss the status of the implementation of ECDE and Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) policies in Baringo County.
He said the county has a total of 1,095 public ECDE centres. Of these, 802 centres are located within public primary schools, representing approximately 73.2 per cent of all public ECDE centres.
Additionally, 279 ECDE centres are stand-alone facilities, accounting for approximately 25.5 per cent of the total number of centres. A further 14 ECDE centres, representing about 1.3 per cent of the total, are situated within informal settlements.
“The distribution of public ECDE centres demonstrates that the majority of ECDE services in the county are integrated within existing primary school infrastructure, while a significant number operate as stand-alone centres to enhance access in areas where integration with primary schools is not feasible,” he added.
Cheboi told senators that no mandatory fees are charged in public ECDE centres, as the County Government supports ECDE programmes through the remuneration of teachers and the provision of learning materials, infrastructure and school meals, subject to budgetary availability.
“Parents and development partners may also offer voluntary support towards school meals, uniforms and other mutually agreed activities,” he said.
The governor said his administration has a total of 1,585 ECDE teachers distributed across 1,095 ECDE centres. On average, each centre has at least one teacher, depending on enrolment levels and staffing requirements.
“During the recent recruitment of 171 ECDE teachers, 148 positions were allocated to replace untrained teachers, while 23 positions were used to replace teachers who had exited service through natural attrition,” he said.
