The county government of Homa Bay has rolled out an ambitious program in improving ECD infrastructure with the construction of 160 new classrooms in all the 40 wards. Initiated by Governor Gladys Wanga, the county government is aiming at transforming pre-primary infrastructure to keep up with demands for improved learning facilities and assure citizens of better, more equitable development.
In the last decade of devolution, Homa Bay managed to build 20 ECD classrooms from scratch, besides the 33 that were stalled. In the last financial year, the county managed to complete 80 classrooms, showing a very great commitment to advancing early childhood education.
Now, Governor Wanga’s administration has picked up the pace and is set for the construction of 160 classrooms within the current financial year. Christened the Genowa Ondoa Kaunda Classrooms, the programme was officially launched on 12 July 2024 at God Ndonyo Primary School in Kibiri ward, Karachuonyo constituency.
Each classroom will cost in the range of KSh 1 million. The funds will not be controlled by central funding models that seem to be the norm; rather, they will be controlled directly by the schools and local communities. This is a decentralized approach aimed at enhancing transparency, accountability, and community involvement in the construction initiative.
She said the strategy was in tandem with the Public Procurement Act. She added that this strategy will not only ensure timely completion of the projects but it will also provide local employment opportunities. This will reduce outstanding bills and streamline the execution of a project through localized fund management.
There shall be a project management committee in every school. Such committees would ensure that expenditure of money provided is done effectively and that projects are completed within the stipulated time. Operational costs, like fuel, shall be taken charge of by the contractors themselves so that available financial resources shall be wisely utilized.
It is in the light of this that the county executive for education, Martin Opere, called for close oversight by MCAs and vigilance by school administrators, warning any fraudulent activity and urging the community to remain proactive in monitoring the progress.
Opere said any embezzlement would attract strict legal action. He challenged the project committees to uphold ethics that would ensure the completion of classrooms within schedule. The community is encouraged to hold accountable any individual or group attempting to misuse the allocated resources.