The national government has raised fresh concerns over what it describes as persistent underfunding of Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres and Vocational Training Centres (VTCs) by county governments, warning that the funding gaps threaten to weaken Kenya’s education foundation and skills pipeline.
In the 2026 Budget Policy Statement, the Ministry of Education flagged significant disparities in financing, policy direction and implementation of devolved education functions, noting that several counties have not consistently prioritised ECDE and vocational training despite the mandate resting squarely under their control.
Under the Constitution, ECDE and VTCs are fully devolved functions managed by county governments. However, the ministry’s assessment indicates that uneven budget allocations, weak policy frameworks and inconsistent implementation are already affecting service delivery in the two critical subsectors.
Education officials cautioned that inadequate funding has translated into operational challenges in many centres, including infrastructure gaps, insufficient learning materials and strained staffing levels. The situation is particularly worrying in ECDE, where foundational learning outcomes depend heavily on adequate teacher support, safe facilities and learner welfare programmes.
One of the most striking concerns raised by the ministry is the inconsistency in school feeding programmes at the ECDE level. While some counties have established feeding initiatives that boost enrolment and attendance, others provide no meals at all or operate irregular programmes. The ministry warned that such disparities risk widening inequality, especially in low-income and marginalized communities where school meals play a crucial role in keeping children in class.
The report also paints a difficult picture for ECDE teachers across counties. Low and inconsistent remuneration, limited career progression pathways and heavy workloads due to staffing shortages are among the challenges cited. The absence of standardized human resource policies across counties has further compounded the problem, leading to disparities in pay and working conditions for teachers performing similar duties in different regions.
For VTCs, the funding constraints have implications beyond classroom learning. Vocational institutions are central to Kenya’s efforts to equip young people with technical skills aligned to labour market demands. Yet insufficient investment in equipment, workshops and trainer capacity threatens to undermine the country’s push toward industrialisation and job creation.
The ministry further faulted the broader policy framework for giving limited attention to county-level education implementation, calling for stronger coordination between the national government and devolved units. It proposed that counties, through the Council of Governors, develop clear capitation policies for ECDE and VTC learners and standardize implementation frameworks in the coming fiscal year.
At the same time, the national government signalled readiness to mobilise additional resources, particularly to support ECDE school feeding programmes, recognising their impact on enrolment and retention.
The warning comes as Kenya continues to roll out reforms under the Competency-Based Curriculum and advance its Bottom-Up Economic Transformation Agenda, both of which hinge on strong foundational education and robust technical training systems.
Analysts say the message from the ministry is clear: unless counties strengthen funding and policy support for ECDE and VTCs, the country risks weakening the very base upon which its education and economic aspirations are built.
With budget deliberations looming at both national and county levels, the spotlight now shifts to governors and county assemblies to determine whether the alarm sounded by the ministry will translate into meaningful budgetary reforms — or remain yet another cautionary note in Kenya’s evolving devolution journey.
