By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 4 June 2026 - Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga mounted a robust defence of her administration's education record before the Senate Standing Committee on Education, presenting a scorecard of rapid infrastructure expansion while acknowledging persistent challenges in teacher staffing and school feeding programmes.
Appearing before the committee chaired by Betty Montet, Wanga painted a picture of an administration racing to rebuild an education sector it claims was neglected during the first decade of devolution.
The governor's appearance highlighted a growing debate facing county governments across Kenya: whether to prioritise classroom infrastructure or learner welfare programmes amid constrained budgets.
While school feeding programmes have increasingly become a cornerstone of early childhood education due to their role in improving nutrition, attendance and concentration, Homa Bay chose a different path.
Wanga told senators that her administration deliberately postponed the introduction of a countywide feeding programme to first tackle what she described as severe infrastructure deficits inherited from previous administrations.
The decision reflects the difficult balancing act confronting county governments. Hungry learners struggle to concentrate in class. Yet modern education increasingly demands safe classrooms, adequate facilities and technology-enabled learning spaces that prepare children for a rapidly changing world.
"We shelved the feeding programme, even though it remains a priority for us," Wanga told the committee. "We must first determine a sustainable model and cost structure that can serve all our children, including those living on the islands."
The governor's remarks offered a glimpse into the logistical and financial complexities surrounding universal feeding programmes in geographically diverse counties.
However, senators also turned their attention to another longstanding concern: the high teacher-to-learner ratios reported in some ECDE centres.
Wanga conceded that staffing gaps remain a challenge. She attributed the situation to an ongoing personnel verification exercise launched after her administration took office, particularly targeting teachers hired on contractual terms.
The governor revealed that her administration has focused on confirming existing staff before embarking on fresh recruitment.
According to the county chief, 1,657 ECDE teachers have already been placed on permanent and pensionable terms, with plans underway to recruit more personnel in the next financial year as the county pursues a teacher-pupil ratio of 1:25.
The figures underscore the scale of demand in a county that supports more than 60,000 learners across 881 ECDE centres.
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Yet it is infrastructure where Wanga's administration appears keenest to showcase its achievements.
Through the flagship "Ondoa Kaunda" classroom initiative, the county says it has upgraded facilities in 604 ECDE centres, a dramatic increase from the 23 classrooms inherited when the administration took office.
The programme has also become an economic empowerment tool. By engaging local contractors and community committees, the county argues that education spending is simultaneously stimulating grassroots economies.
Wanga praised what she described as prudent use of public funds by village committees, noting that some projects have delivered classrooms and furniture while still generating savings.
Her argument reflects a broader governance philosophy increasingly gaining traction among county governments: keeping development funds circulating within local economies rather than concentrating contracts among a handful of large firms.
Beyond early childhood education, the governor also highlighted gains in technical and vocational training.
All 35 public Vocational Training Centres are currently operational, according to the county government, while more than 1,200 young people have received training and certification under the "Fundi Mang'ula" initiative.
The programme forms part of a wider strategy aimed at equipping youth with practical skills amid rising unemployment and shrinking opportunities in the formal labour market.
For Wanga, the Senate appearance was more than a routine accountability session. It was an opportunity to present education as one of the defining pillars of her administration.
"We found only 23 ECDE classrooms. By the end of this financial year, we shall have built more than 600 classrooms in less than four years," she told senators.
The numbers provide a powerful political narrative. Yet the scrutiny from senators also served as a reminder that infrastructure alone may not be enough. As counties seek to transform learning outcomes, the next frontier will likely be addressing teacher shortages, expanding feeding programmes and ensuring that improved classrooms translate into better educational achievement for thousands of children across Homa Bay.