Education stakeholders in Turkana County have called for stronger collaboration and practical action to implement the county's approved Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) Policy and improve services for children.
The call was made during an ECDE stakeholders' engagement meeting in Lodwar on October 7, 2026, supported by the Lutheran World Federation (LWF).
The meeting brought together government agencies, non-governmental organisations, Aga Khan, Turkana University, farmers and the Diocese of Lodwar, among other stakeholders, to strengthen investment in early childhood education.
Discussions focused on ECDE as a foundation for learning, food and nutrition security, gender and disability inclusion, child safeguarding and digital literacy.
Stakeholders Call for Stronger Child Protection
Dominic Kinyanjui, the Deputy County Commissioner, who represented the County Commissioner, emphasised the need to strengthen child safeguarding and protection, particularly in mining areas and along porous borders.
“We must work together to ensure children are protected from exploitation and remain in school,” he said.
Kinyanjui also urged the ECDE department to join the County Steering Group, chaired by the County Commissioner, and share its reports with the education sector.
He said stronger coordination and information sharing would help improve child protection and cooperation among government agencies.
Turkana Education Officials Highlight ECDE Priorities
County Director of Education Dr Henry Lubanga called for improved coordination to strengthen ECDE services, including registration, food provision, curriculum implementation and infrastructure development.
Acting Director of ECDE Alice Ejem thanked the Lutheran World Federation for its continued support for capacity building, saying the assistance had contributed to important milestones in the sector.
Ejem highlighted the approval of the Turkana ECDE Policy and implementation of the Turkana ECDE Management Information System (TECDEMIS) as key achievements in improving education management and accountability.
The policy is expected to guide efforts to strengthen early childhood education services across the county.
LWF Urges Sustainable Support Beyond Donor Funding
LWF Education Technical Lead Baaqir Khadija urged stakeholders to focus on practical measures that would translate the approved policy into better services for children.
She called for sustainable interventions that would strengthen the county government's capacity to maintain ECDE programmes beyond donor support.
Khadija also emphasised the need for stronger child safeguarding, particularly for children with disabilities.
Her remarks highlighted the importance of ensuring that education programmes remain inclusive and sustainable while protecting vulnerable learners.
Stakeholders Call for Inclusive and Resilient Education
Turkana Central Sub-County Administrator Esther Aremon called for increased community sensitisation and information sharing.
She also urged stakeholders to support ECDE services affected by disasters, which can disrupt learning and access to essential services for children.
Kenya Union of Post-Primary Education Teachers (KUPPET) Executive Secretary Michael Ejikon emphasised teachers' welfare as an important factor in improving learning outcomes.
His counterpart from the Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT), Peter Ewaat, called for greater integration and inclusion in education.
The stakeholders said coordinated efforts were necessary to address the different challenges facing early childhood education across Turkana County.
County Assembly Pledges Support for ECDE Policy
Director for Resource Mobilisation and Partnership Coordination at the County Assembly Wilson Ikamar highlighted the Assembly's role in supporting education through the Speaker's education outreach initiatives.
Ikamar encouraged the sector to embrace technology and commended the ECDE department for its resource mobilisation efforts.
He said the County Assembly would support implementation of the ECDE Policy and prioritise it through the budget process.
The support is expected to contribute to efforts to strengthen ECDE services and improve access to quality early childhood learning.
Stakeholders Commit to Action for Children
The meeting concluded with a commitment to strengthen coordination and translate the approved ECDE Policy into tangible benefits for children and teachers across host and refugee communities in Turkana.
The stakeholders stressed the need to move beyond policy approval to practical implementation, with attention to child protection, inclusive education, nutrition, infrastructure and sustainable programme financing.
Their commitment places greater emphasis on collaboration between the county government, education institutions, development partners and local communities in strengthening early childhood education.
