At Homa Bay Primary School stands a modern sparkling classroom.
Three months ago, this space was occupied by an old structure with torn ironsheets which hosted Early Childhood Education (ECD) children.
This is one of the transformations which has been taking place in the ECD centres in the area for the past three months.
‘We initiated the project on July 10, 2024 at God Ndonyo in Kibiri Ward. Today, 90 days since we started the initiative, we have built a total of 163 classrooms. That’s 4 classrooms per ward at a cost of Sh163 million with no pending bills’-governor wanga
In just 90 days, the county has managed to put up 163 ECD through a project baptised ‘Ondoa Kaunda’ launched in July, and targeted to transform all ECDC classrooms in the area from outdated iron sheet to permanent structures.
“We initiated the project on July 10, 2024 at God Ndonyo in Kibiri Ward. Today, 90 days since we started the initiative, we have built a total of 163 classrooms. That’s 4 classrooms per ward at a cost of Sh163 million with no pending bills,” said Governor Gladys Wanga.
According to Governor Wanga, the Ondoa Kaunda project was coined to utilize a labour-based model which fostered community participation and ownership in the development of the schools.
She said by involving the local community in the construction process, the county government is ensuring that the project has a lasting impact on the schools and the surrounding areas.
She noted that the project model ensured creation of employment opportunities for local residents.
The newly built classrooms, equipped with modern facilities, are set to provide a conducive learning environment for young learners, setting the stage for their academic success.
Modeling future generation
Governor Wanga has emphasized the importance of early childhood education in shaping children’s cognitive, social, and emotional development, highlighting the need for improved infrastructure to support their growth.
With a total of 240 new classrooms already completed and plans for an additional 200 in the coming financial year, the Ondoa Kaunda project is set to transform the education landscape in Homa Bay County.
Wanga noted that by prioritizing early childhood education and investing in infrastructure, the county is laying a solid foundation for the future generation, creating a more educated and empowered populace.
“We devote to adhere to the UNESCO threshold ratio of 2 teachers to 35 learners by employing additional teachers,” Wanga said.
She said the investment in the education sector will have impacts in the overall socio-economic development of the region.
“We endeavor to implement the labour based policy not only for the construction of ECD centres but also in other development initiatives like construction of fish bandas,” she added.
