Nandi Senatorial Aspirant Isaiah Cheruiyot commonly known as (Gwiji Isaiah) Petitions Senate to Reclaim ECDE from Counties
A Nandi resident and senatorial aspirant, Isaiah Kiptoo Cheruiyot, has formally petitioned the Senate of Kenya seeking a constitutional amendment to transfer the management of Early Childhood Development Education back to the national government.
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| Isaiah Cheruiyot (right) hands over his petition to an official from the Senate. (Photo Courtesy Gwiji Isaiah Facebook) |
The petition, which was officially received by the Clerk of the Senate, invokes Article 119 of the Constitution of Kenya 2010, a provision that grants citizens the right to present matters to Parliament for consideration, including proposals to amend existing laws.
In his submission, Cheruiyot argues that Early Childhood Development Education, currently a devolved function under the Fourth Schedule of the Constitution, has suffered from significant inconsistencies since the introduction of devolution. He notes that disparities in infrastructure, teacher welfare, funding, and overall quality of learning environments across counties have created unequal opportunities for children at the foundational level of education.
According to the petitioner, these gaps have undermined national principles such as equity, equality, and cohesion. He points to cases of inadequate funding in several counties, which has resulted in poor infrastructure, limited learning materials, and reduced capacity to deliver quality early childhood education services.
Cheruiyot further raises concerns over the welfare of ECDE teachers, highlighting inconsistent pay structures, delayed salaries, and the absence of standardized terms of service. He argues that these challenges have negatively affected teacher motivation, retention, and ultimately the quality of instruction offered to young learners.
The petition also faults the lack of a centralized national framework for ECDE administration, stating that it has led to inconsistencies in curriculum implementation, monitoring, and service delivery standards across the country. He maintains that given its critical role in shaping cognitive, social, and emotional development, early childhood education should be treated as a strategic national priority alongside primary and secondary education.
In his prayers to the Senate, Cheruiyot is seeking the initiation of a constitutional amendment process to transfer ECDE from county governments to the national government. This would involve revising the Fourth Schedule by removing ECDE from Part Two, where it is currently assigned to counties, and placing it under Part One as a national function.
He is also proposing the establishment of a comprehensive national ECDE framework under the Ministry of Education. Such a framework, he says, would ensure uniform service delivery standards, standardized recruitment and remuneration of teachers, equitable resource distribution, and stronger monitoring and accountability systems.
Additionally, the petitioner is calling for a structured transition plan that would guide the transfer of personnel, infrastructure, and financial resources from county governments to the national government while safeguarding service continuity and protecting the rights of affected workers.
Cheruiyot has affirmed that the petition is made in good faith, is not subject to any ongoing legal proceedings, and is aimed at strengthening the governance, quality, and accessibility of early childhood education across Kenya.
The petition now awaits consideration by the Senate, setting the stage for what could become a significant national debate on the future of devolution in the education sector.
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Nandi County