County Plans to Build 20 New ECDE Centers Across Nairobi Estates

Nairobi County plans to build 20 new ECDE centers across city estates by 2026, targeting underserved areas and aligning with its School Improvement Blueprint and ECD policy goals.
As part of its 2025–2026 development priorities, the Nairobi City County Government has announced plans to construct 20 new Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE) centers across various estates. This initiative is outlined in the County Annual Development Plan (CADP) 2025/2026 and aims to expand access to quality early learning, especially in informal settlements and densely populated neighborhoods. The move supports the county’s broader goal of ensuring that 95% of children under six years are developmentally on track by 2030.
The new ECDE centers will feature modern classrooms, child-friendly sanitation, playgrounds, and digital learning tools, with designs tailored to meet the needs of young learners. Priority areas include Embakasi, Kibra, Mathare, Dagoretti, and Mukuru, where existing ECDE infrastructure is either overstretched or inadequate. The centers will also incorporate inclusive features for children with disabilities and will be staffed by trained ECDE teachers recruited through county and national partnerships.
This expansion aligns with findings from a 2025 baseline study conducted by the Aga Khan University’s Institute for Human Development, which highlighted significant gaps in ECDE access and quality across Nairobi. The study informed the county’s integrated ECD policy framework, which emphasizes multisectoral collaboration in health, nutrition, and education. Nairobi’s School Improvement Blueprint, launched in September 2025, also prioritizes ECDE upgrades as a foundation for long-term education reform.
Stakeholders have welcomed the plan, noting that early learning investments yield high returns in literacy, social-emotional development, and school readiness. The county has pledged to involve communities in site selection and monitoring, and to publish progress updates through its education dashboard. Construction is expected to begin in early 2026, with phased rollouts based on budget availability and infrastructure audits.