2000 EDCE Teachers Conference At MKU Thika graced By Kiambu County Governor

(ECDE programme’s relevance to the national and global development blueprints, the Kenya Vision 2030 and Sustainable development Goals, was also explained).

Mount Kenya University hosted the Kiambu County’s Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) workshop in April 2026.  The well attended 3 days event brought together close to 2000 ECDE teachers from across the county, tens of County Education leaders including the County Executive Committee Member for Education,  Dr. Mercy Njagi, leaders from different agencies of the National Government’s Ministry of Education, County Government’s political leaders led by the Governor of the County Government of Kiambu, His Excellency, Dr. Kimani Wamatangi, key partners including senior members of MKU Management as the hosting university, Moran Publishers, Del Monte Industry, among many others.

The Governor, His Excellency Dr. Kimani Wamatangi explained about the gap he found in ECDE support within the county in 2022 and showcased how his county government has contributed in closing this gap.  More specifically, he detailed the extent of support that has gone into this sector of education in the county within the last 4 years in terms of infrastructural and administrative support.  He however promised that going forward his attention has shifted to the human resource development commencing with a promise to MKU seeking a chance to provide a training program for the ECDE teachers in the county.  He promised to set aside Kshs. 20 million in 2026 -2027 financial year to achieve that objective. 

Some of the key partners in the workshop included Dr Solomon Lemulen of Kenya Universities and Colleges Central Placement Service (KUCCPS), representatives from the Delmonte Company (Thika), Mr. Samson Kimani of Moran Publishers, Dr. Jecinta Kalumu of Kenya Institute for Curriculum Development (KICD) who was a key trainer among others.

MKU was represented by the Chairman of the Council who is also the MKU Pro-Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Gaitho, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Deogratius Jaganyi, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor Administrative Planning and Institutional Advancement (APIA) Prof. Peter Kirira, the Principal Corporate Services, Prof. Peter Wanderi among other MKU staff members.  The Principal Corporate Services made a presentation on MKU partnerships on the 2^nd day and related ECDE program to his scholarly works on indigenous and creative games and even gave a physical demonstration of a gymnastic skill – the handstand after a detailed presentation on the Kenya Vision 2030, Sustainable Development Goals and their relevance to the ECDE programme.

The speakers appreciated the effort that has gone towards ECDE support in the county since 2023 as a priority area of development saying many guests from outside Kenya including from as far as Eretria and other counties within the country are coming for bench marking.

The Pro-Chancellor promised to have a team appointed at MKU to look through the requests that were made to MKU by the county leaders.

The workshop commenced on Monday the 20^th and ended on Wednesday 22^nd April 2026.