By Beatrice Obila and Rhayan Kanyandong
The County Government of Siaya has emerged among Kenya’s top-performing counties in Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE), thanks to a strong school feeding programme, improved teacher welfare, and enhanced nurturing care initiatives under Governor James Orengo’s administration.
The recognition came during a joint sitting of the Senate Standing Committee on Education and the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Education on May 12, 2026. Governor Orengo appeared before the committees alongside County Chief Officer for Education and Social Services, Mr. Richard Ogeda. The committees praised Siaya for employing over 710 ECDE teachers on permanent and pensionable terms, with salaries ranging between KSh 25,000 and KSh 70,000 depending on qualifications and job group. The move has significantly boosted teacher morale and service delivery across ECDE centres.
According to Mr. Ogeda, Siaya remains the only county implementing a sustained daily feeding programme for ECDE learners across all 30 wards. He noted that the initiative has greatly improved attendance, retention, concentration, and the overall wellbeing of learners.
File photo: Siaya Governor James Orengo and officials serve fortified porridge during the ECDE feeding programme rollout.
The success of the programme has also been attributed to coordinated efforts led by Benter Jacobs, the County Focal Person for the ECDE School Feeding Programme and Nurturing Care for Early Childhood Development. Jacobs noted that ECDE enrolment increased from 45,000 learners in February 2025 to 52,750 in February 2026, driven by improved nutrition, better learning environments, and increased community confidence in county-supported ECDE centres.
County officials further noted that integrating nutrition, health, early learning, and psychosocial support has strengthened holistic child development and created a more learner-friendly ECDE environment.
Following the county’s impressive performance, the Senate Standing Committee on Education announced plans to conduct a benchmarking visit to Siaya County within the Financial Year 2025/2026 to study its ECDE model as a national best practice. The committees ranked Nakuru County second and Elgeyo Marakwet County third for teacher welfare and school feeding programmes.
Education stakeholders say Siaya’s achievements demonstrate how investment in teacher welfare, nutrition, and nurturing care can significantly improve early learning outcomes and lay a strong foundation for children’s future success.