At least 453 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) teachers, previously on contract, have been converted to permanent and pensionable positions, Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jr has disclosed.
Mutula attributed the delay in confirming the ECDE teachers to permanent positions to budgetary constraints that affected the allocation of their salaries and allowances.
“In 2014, recognizing your essential role, the county government recruited 950 of you on contract due to budgetary constraints, which delayed your conversion to permanent and pensionable positions,” said Mutula outside his Wote office on Monday, where he handed over letters of appointment to the ECDE teachers.
“But your dedication and hard work never wavered since 2014. In January, the first cohort of 497 teachers were taken on permanent positions, and I promised the rest of you that you would have your day in July,” added the Governor.
He emphasized that this gesture was not a political move but a reward for the teachers’ hard work, despite their low earnings, which were insufficient to meet their daily needs.
Mutula stressed the importance of treating and remunerating teachers well, both at the national and county levels, as they play a crucial role in shaping the future and positively impacting young children.
His government, Mutula noted, has invested in building child-friendly infrastructure and providing essential materials to facilitate activities like music and digital learning in ECDE centres across the county.
“We can spend so much money constructing beautiful classrooms, but teachers go home with Ksh 5,000 or Ksh 7,000. This is inhumane. We apologize for what you have endured,” lamented Mutula.
“We recognize that the security of your welfare ensures that you will not abandon our alpha generation,” he added.
The diploma teachers who were earning Ksh 20,000 will now receive Ksh 41,000, while certificate holders will earn Ksh 37,000, up from Ksh 17,000, in addition to other allowances. The ECDE teachers will be transferrable within the county.
He encouraged the ECDE teachers to embrace continuous learning to stay updated with technologies and teaching methodologies, enabling them to offer quality education to the young children of Makueni.
“We have completed 36 out of 44 projects in the 2023/2024 financial year. Through the Anita Mbinya Foundation, we have distributed 1,000 kiddie chairs and 125 kiddie tables to enhance learning in our ECDE centres across the county,” said Executive Committee Member (ECM) for ICT, Education, and Internship Elizabeth Muli.
At the same event, Makueni County Woman Member of Parliament Rose Museo praised the county government for its efforts in nurturing young children in the county.
Also present at the function were Deputy Governor Lucy Mulili, Makueni County Service Board Chairperson Dr Nicomeus Muteti, Devolution ECM Japheth Mang’oka, and his counterparts for Lands, Urban Planning and Environment, and Trade, Nicolas Nzioka, and Dr Sonia Nzilani, among other senior county government officials
