About the Department
Background
The Department of Education, Youth Affairs & Social Services delivers the education functions devolved to counties — pre-primary education, village polytechnics, childcare facilities and home craft centres — alongside youth and social protection programmes.
Its investments shape the county’s human capital: from a child’s first classroom to a young person’s first trade certificate and a vulnerable household’s safety net.
Legal Mandate
The department derives its mandate from:
- The Constitution of Kenya, 2010 (Article 53 and Fourth Schedule)
- The Basic Education Act, 2013
- The TVET Act, 2013
- The County Governments Act, 2012
- The Persons with Disabilities Act, 2003
Constitutional Functions
- Pre-primary (ECDE) education
- Village polytechnics and vocational training centres
- Childcare facilities and home craft centres
- County bursary and scholarship administration
- Youth empowerment and talent development
- Social protection, gender and disability mainstreaming
Core Responsibilities
- Constructing and equipping ECDE classrooms and VTC workshops
- Recruiting, deploying and supporting ECDE teachers and instructors
- Administering the county education support fund and bursaries
- Running youth empowerment, skills and enterprise programmes
- Supporting the elderly, PWDs, orphans and vulnerable groups
- Mainstreaming gender and disability across county programmes
An educated, skilled and socially secure county community
Purpose
To provide quality early learning and vocational training, expand opportunity for young people, and protect the most vulnerable through inclusive social services.
Core Values
Integrity
Honest, ethical conduct in every transaction and decision.
Accountability
Responsible use of public resources with clear reporting.
Professionalism
Technical excellence and respect in service delivery.
Innovation
Embracing new methods, data and technology.
Teamwork
Collaboration across directorates and with partners.
Inclusivity
Services accessible to all, including youth, women and PWDs.
Transparency
Open processes, published data and clear communication.
Sustainability
Protecting resources for future generations.
Departmental Leadership
Meet the executive and technical leadership steering the department’s mandate.
Hon. Christine Jenifer Akinyi
Professional Profile
Key Responsibilities
- Education and social policy oversight
- Representation in the County Executive Committee
- Accounting Officer for the departmental budget
- Partner and donor engagement
Mr. Richard Ogeda
Professional Profile
Mr. Ogeda is an accomplished education professional and community development practitioner with over 20 years of experience in the education sector. His career has been dedicated to strengthening education, supporting professional development, and contributing to community development initiatives.
Key Responsibilities
- ECDE and VTC administration
- Authority to Incur Expenditure (AIE) holder
- Teacher and instructor management
- Infrastructure and learning materials
Directorates & Units
Select a directorate to view its mandate, objectives, functions and team.
Early Childhood Development Education
Mandate
To deliver quality, accessible pre-primary education in every ward.
Objectives
- Build 100 model ECDE classrooms
- Achieve a 1:25 teacher-learner ratio
- Provide learning materials to all centres
Functions
- ECDE curriculum support and supervision
- Teacher recruitment and in-service training
- Classroom construction and equipping
- School feeding and health linkage
Team
Vocational Training (TVET)
Mandate
To equip young people with market-relevant technical skills.
Objectives
- Equip all county VTCs with modern tools
- Raise trainee enrolment by 40%
- Achieve 70% trainee certification rate
Functions
- Village polytechnic management
- Instructor recruitment and development
- Workshop equipping and modernisation
- Industry attachment and certification
Team
Education Support & Bursaries
Mandate
To keep needy learners in school through targeted financial support.
Objectives
- Disburse bursaries within one term
- Reach 20,000 needy learners annually
- Digitise bursary applications
Functions
- Bursary and scholarship administration
- Needs verification with ward committees
- Special needs education support
- Mentorship and career guidance
Team
Youth, Gender & Social Services
Mandate
To empower youth and protect vulnerable members of society.
Objectives
- Support 500 youth enterprises
- Register all PWDs for county support
- Establish a county rescue centre
Functions
- Youth talent, sports and enterprise support
- Gender-based violence prevention and referral
- Support to the elderly, PWDs and OVCs
- Community group registration and training
Team
Find a Service
Search or filter services by category. Download the relevant application form where available.
| Service | Description | Target Users | Application Method | Timeline | Fees | Form |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| County Bursary Application Registration |
Financial support for needy secondary, TVET and university students. | Needy learners, guardians | Ward bursary committee / portal | Per disbursement cycle | Free | |
| ECDE Learner Enrolment Registration |
Enrolment of children in county pre-primary centres. | Parents, guardians | ECDE centre | Same day | Free | |
| Vocational Training Enrolment Registration |
Admission into county vocational training centres. | Youth, school leavers | VTC admission office | 7 working days | Subsidised tuition | |
| Youth Enterprise Grant Registration |
Start-up grants and mentorship for youth-led enterprises. | Youth groups | Sub-county youth office | 30 working days | Free application | |
| PWD Registration & Support Registration |
Registration and issuance of assistive devices and support. | Persons with disabilities | Social services office | 14 working days | Free | |
| Elderly & Vulnerable Household Support Advisory |
Referral and support for elderly and vulnerable households. | Elderly, OVCs | Ward social development office | 14 working days | Free | |
| Gender-Based Violence Referral Advisory |
Confidential support, counselling and referral for survivors. | Survivors, families | GBV desk / hotline | Immediate | Free | |
| Community Group Registration Registration |
Registration of self-help, youth and women groups. | Community groups | Social development office | 10 working days | KES 1,000 |
Departmental Projects
Model ECDE Classroom Programme
Construction and equipping of 60 model ECDE classrooms with sanitation.
VTC Modernisation Project
Modern workshops, tools and instructor training in eight polytechnics.
Digital Bursary Management System
Online application, vetting and disbursement tracking of bursaries.
ECDE Teacher Recruitment Drive
Recruitment and deployment of 450 ECDE teachers county-wide.
Youth Talent & Skills Festival
County-wide talent identification and skills exhibition.
County Rescue & Rehabilitation Centre
Safe house and rehabilitation services for vulnerable groups.
Youth Innovation & Digital Hub
Co-working, training and digital work hub for young people.
Flagship Programmes
Capacity Building
Continuous training for officers and community champions.
Youth Empowerment
Internships, grants and mentorship for young people.
Women Empowerment
Targeted access to opportunity, credit and markets.
Public Participation
Ward forums, budget hearings and citizen feedback.
Climate Action
Climate-resilient planning and greening initiatives.
Digital Transformation
e-Services, open data and automated workflows.
How Our Work Aligns
Every departmental initiative is anchored in county, national and global development frameworks.
CIDP Alignment
Directly implements the sector priorities of the County Integrated Development Plan (CIDP) 2023–2027.
- Sector programme delivery
- Ward-equitable investment
- Human capital development
Annual Development Plan
Translates CIDP priorities into costed annual work plans and budget proposals reviewed each fiscal year.
- FY 2026/27 costed workplan
- Ward-level project prioritization
Sustainable Development Goals
Aligns departmental targets with the global goals adopted by Kenya.
- Measured SDG indicators
- Gender-responsive programming
Governor’s Manifesto
Delivers on the commitments made to residents in the county leadership manifesto.
- Flagship commitments tracked quarterly
- Published delivery scorecard
Performance Contract
Annual targets are cascaded from the CECM through directors to individual staff appraisal.
- Service delivery KPIs
- Quarterly public reporting
Intergovernmental Coordination
Aligned with national sector policy and coordinated through the Council of Governors’ sector committee.
- Joint national–county programmes
- Donor & partner coordination
Documents & Resources
Browse official department documents organised by category.