Kirinyaga County Governor, Anne Waiguru, has made history as the first governor to issue free uniforms to all Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) learners.
In an event held at the County Headquarters in Kutus on Thursday, Waiguru issued 15,000 complete sets of uniform to be distributed to all the ECDE learners.
The sets consisted of shorts, shirts, sweaters and socks for boys and tunics, blouses, sweaters and socks for girls.
The uniforms have distinct colors for different constituencies where ECDE learners from Ndia and Mwea will be wearing blue color while Kirinyaga Central and Gichugu will be wearing green colored uniform.
Waiguru said that Kirinyaga County is the first to give out ECDE School Uniforms and said that her administration is committed to sustained production of the uniforms that are sewed at the county owned Kaitheri Apparel Center.
“The uniforms have been produced at Kaitheri Apparel Factory through Wezesha Mama Initiative and will be distributed for free, we hope to produce another set in 3 months,” she said, adding that the uniform project came about during public participation forums where parents expressed frustration in having to source uniform at exorbitant prices from commercial dealers.
At the same time she noted that her administration will move further to producing leather shoes for the children.
This she said will be done through educating farmers on hides and skins’ management so that they can supply them to potential leather processors at the upcoming Sagana Industrial Park.
To further boost ECDE learning in the county, Waiguru said that plans to undertake a school feeding program are underway whereby every learner will be receiving a packet of milk twice a week as a starting point.
Governor Waiguru, who doubles up as the Chair of Council of Governors (COG), also disbursed Ksh. 147.5 bursary to benefit 45,000 students from needy backgrounds.
Out of these students, 35,656 are drawn from secondary schools, 5,443 from colleges and 3,901 from various universities.
Prior to this disbursement, Kirinyaga County had cumulatively disbursed bursaries worth Ksh.413.8 million in the previous six years, benefitting 146,211 deserving students.
The current disbursement is so far the largest and a great improvement from the Ksh. 70 million given in 2019.
Waiguru reaffirmed her commitment to supporting the improvement of the county’s academic performance and according every child the opportunity to fulfill their potential.
“We are committed to supporting our children’s education since we believe that every one of them should have the opportunity and means to realize their full potential regardless of their circumstance,” she said.
She urged the bursary recipients to maintain their academic focus, emphasizing the importance of education in shaping their futures and contributing meaningfully to their communities and the nation.
Kirinyaga County Assembly Leader of Majority, Daniel Kibinga, applauded the governor for the timely disbursement of funds since it gives the parents enough room to plan for the coming term.
He said that the County Government is set to achieve many development milestones due to harmonious working relationship between the County Assembly and the Executive.
Other Members of the County Assembly present noted that the bursaries and uniform distribution will go a long way in lessening the parents’ burden.
