Kisumu County has launched new regulations governing early childhood development (ECD) education centres and daycare facilities, setting standards for registration, infrastructure, nutrition and child welfare.
The 2026 regulations are intended to give effect to the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Education Act, 2023, according to county officials.
The launch brought together county government officials, members of the county assembly, education officers and other stakeholders in the ECD sector.
County officials said Kisumu was the first county in Kenya to enact and operationalise comprehensive regulations for the sector.
John Awiti, the county executive committee member for education, technical training, innovation and social services, said the regulations would provide a framework for improving the quality of early learning.
“This is one of the most fundamental milestones that we are making because we now have the document that will assist us and enable us to lay a stronger foundation for the future of our children,” Awiti said.
The regulations set requirements for the establishment and registration of ECD centres, learning facilities and programmes aimed at supporting children’s growth and development.
Bovince Ochieng, the county’s chief officer for education, technical training, innovation and social services, said the framework would also strengthen curriculum implementation and nutrition programmes.
“We ensure that our children have what we call the proper feeding programme as well as nutrition at the early age, because we are looking at the holistic development of our children mentally, psychologically, academically and also in terms of their well-being,” Ochieng said.
Wilikister Odera, the county director of education in charge of early childhood, said implementation would now focus on the grassroots level.
She said the county would work with teachers, centre managers, parents, education stakeholders and development partners to ensure compliance with the regulations.
“As a director, I now know that the only work that is remaining is implementation of the regulation. As the one leading the actors on the ground, we are going to ensure that we do full implementation of the regulation,” Odera said.
Members of the county assembly and county executive officials pledged support for implementation, saying the new framework would guide ECD activities, child welfare programmes and partnerships.
Early childhood education is widely recognised as an important stage in children’s development, with learning, nutrition and care during the early years contributing to their longer-term development.
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