Kisumu County has launched the Early Childhood Development (ECD) Act, 2023 and its Regulations, 2026, paving the way for tighter regulation of ECD centres and childcare facilities across the county.

Education John Awiti executive said the regulations would provide clear guidelines for implementing ECD programmes and services within the law.

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Awiti said the framework would enable the county to move to the ground and implement programmes while ensuring that activities in the sector comply with the law.

He described the regulations as a major milestone, saying Kisumu could provide a benchmark for other counties seeking to strengthen ECD services.

“The Act gives us the laws governing the operations, but the regulations go into the final details on how we are going to implement all the activities and programmes that we are supposed to do,” Awiti said.

He cited the registration and standards of ECD centres as some of the areas where the regulations provide detailed procedures.

The framework also provides guidelines on nutrition and feeding programmes for children in ECD centres.

Awiti said the regulations would help the county implement its programmes within a clear legal framework and reduce the risk of disputes arising from activities undertaken outside the law.

He said the document was developed through collaboration between the county department, partners, the County Assembly and the Office of the County Attorney.

County Chief Officer for Education Bovince Ochieng said the launch marked an important milestone in efforts to strengthen the childcare sector in Kisumu.

He said the regulations would operationalise the ECD Act and provide a framework for coordinating and regulating childcare facilities and ECD centres across the county.

“The regulation is majorly to operationalise the Act. This will ensure that we have a proper way through which we are able to coordinate and control the operations of the childcare facilities as well as the ECDs that we have within the county,” Ochieng said.

He said the framework would help establish a stronger foundation for children by promoting proper infrastructure and creating conducive environments for learning and development.

Ochieng said the county would also focus on curriculum implementation, feeding programmes and nutrition at the early childhood level.

He said the county's approach would support children's holistic development, including their mental, psychological, academic and general wellbeing.

The official said the county was preparing its County Integrated Development Plan and would incorporate provisions of the ECD Act and regulations into the plan.

He called for collaboration between the county government and partners to ensure the provisions of the framework are implemented.

Seth Okumu, the MCA for East Seme Ward and chairperson of the County Assembly's Education, Technical Training, Innovation and Social Services Committee, said the assembly would use the new law to monitor implementation of ECD programmes.

Okumu, who sponsored the bill in the assembly, said the legislation would now guide the implementation of early childhood development activities in the county.

He said the assembly was pleased that the department responsible for implementation supported the legislation.

“We did not just make a law, but we made a law that the department that is supposed to implement is proud of,” he said.

Okumu said the County Assembly would hold the department accountable by assessing its implementation of the law whenever officials appear before the assembly.

He said the legislation would provide a basis for determining whether the county was delivering on the commitments contained in the Act and regulations.

Director of Education in charge of Early Childhood Development Whilkister Odera said the launch marked the completion of a process that had taken time and involved various stakeholders.

She said the focus would now shift to implementation, with education officials expected to ensure the regulations are applied at the grassroots.

“As a director, I now know that the only work that is remaining is implementation of the regulation,” Odera said.

She said childcare had for a long time received limited attention but the new framework would help regulate childcare facilities in the county.

Odera said the regulations would cover children in both pre-primary education and childcare facilities.

“This will help us to ensure that no child is left behind,” she said.

She thanked the county leadership, County Assembly and partners who supported the development of the regulations.

Odera said the department would also work with childcare providers and pre-primary teachers to ensure they understand and are familiar with the new framework.

The county government said the next phase will focus on translating the regulations into practical programmes and services for children across Kisumu.