The Kirinyaga county government has commenced the second phase of distributing uniforms and other learning materials to Early Childhood Development and Education centres.
The move has been lauded as playing a pivotal role in retention of learners in class.
The county administration has been distributing uniforms, crayons, books, pencils, plasticine and teaching materials for teachers.
Speaking on Wednesday at Kariti ward during the distribution exercise, Education chief officer Patrick Mugo said the programme will ease financial burden for parents and ensure children remain in school.
“This initiative by Governor Anne Waiguru addresses the challenges faced by parents and lightens their load regarding uniforms and books, allowing them to focus on other important areas,” Mugo said.
Kariti MCA, Jeremiah Makimi, said every child has received a full set of uniform.
“All the 1,080 PP1 and PP2 students have received uniforms and other essential learning and teaching materials through this programme,” Makimi said.
He assured residents that the programme will be done annually.
Lower Sagana head teacher, Geoffrey Mukuha, lauded the governor for fulfilling her pledge for ECDE centres. He said his school had previously experienced shortage of learning materials.
“We are incredibly grateful to Waiguru. This support ensures our pupils can focus on their studies without the worry of inadequate resources or attire,” Mukuha said.
Sagana Muslim School deputy head teacher, Obadiah Kariuki, also lauded the programme saying it addressed challenges faced by both parents and teachers.
Parents and teachers say the issuance of the free school uniform and learning materials in the county ECDE centres will boost enrolment and retention.
Governor Waiguru launched the programme in April this year.
The county has also focused on the rehabilitation and construction of new ECDE centres.
Parents say apart from helping reduce the burden of buying uniforms, the initiative has also helped them get an extra uniform and now don't have to wash and wear the only uniform.
Benson Mutinda, a parent at Kutus Primary School, said the initiative will boost the children's self-esteem and reduce the financial burden for parents.
“The children can now focus on education and perform better. Many children who couldn't afford uniforms and other learning materials can now attend school,” Mutinda said.
Grace Wambui, another parent at the same school, said children and teachers are well facilitated to learn and teach respectively which will improve the education standards in ECDEs.
“We have witnessed pupils who were always dull in class turn jovial. They can now raise their hands in class to answer questions. Torn uniforms reduce pupils' self-esteem and confidence, resulting into poor academic performance,” said Grace Nyambura, a teacher at Ngando Primary School.
The uniform distribution targets all the 15,000 ECDE learners in 200 centres in the county.
Each pupil has been receiving a full set of uniform which consists of a pair of shorts, a shirt, a sweater and a pair of socks for boys and a tunic, a blouse, a sweater, and a pair of socks for the girls.
The uniforms were produced locally by women at the county’s Kaitheri Apparel Factory.
Governor Waiguru said the county has future plans of distributing shoes manufactured locally from animal skins from area slaughterhouses.