Governors dispute transfer of ECDE management to National Gov't, cite lack of agreement with counties

The Council of Governors (CoG) now says that no deal has been struck between the State and county governments to facilitate the transfer of the management of early childhood development and education centres (ECDE) to the national government.

The Governors' sentiments follow a recent announcement by Education Cabinet Secretary (CS) Ezekiel Machogu in which the minister revealed that primary school head teachers will take charge of the centres, effective January 2024.

Should the move be implemented, the centres, which have been under the jurisdiction of county governments since the inception of devolution, will be transferred to the national government.

In a letter penned to CS Machogu dated December 28, CoG Chairperson Anne Waiguru underscored that the ECDEs are within the domain of counties, and there hasn't been any formal provision to alter the existing arrangement.

"To this date, no such intergovernmental agreement has been entered between the two levels of government," said the Kirinyaga Governor in the letter seen by Citizen Digital.

While noting that the CoG welcomes reforms in the education sector, Waiguru noted that the administration of the centres will remain within the jurisdiction of county governments until a deal on the aforementioned is inked.

"We are cognizant of the recommendation of the Presidential working party on education reforms however the implementation of the same should be strictly undertaken in accordance with the provisions of article 187 of the constitution that sets the parameters for the transfer of the functions and powers between the two levels of government," she said.