New Hygiene Program Improves Cleanliness in Nairobi ECDE Centers

Nairobi County has launched an ambitious hygiene initiative targeting Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres, aiming to significantly improve sanitation and disease prevention among young learners. The programme, spearheaded by the County’s Health, Wellness & Nutrition Department, involves training community health promoters and ECDE caregivers on nurturing care principles, including safety, hygiene, responsive caregiving and environmental health.
Under the new scheme, the county is rolling out a Nurturing Care Training manual adapted for its community health promoters, with the goal of training over 7,800 caregivers through structured five-day courses. These sessions stress proper hand-washing, clean drinking water, safe sanitation, and the establishment of health‐promoting practices within ECDE centres. In addition, regular assessments will be carried out through unannounced county inspections to evaluate classroom hygiene environments and ensure adherence to training outcomes.
Partners including UNICEF are also backing the initiative through upgrades of water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) infrastructure in city schools. In informal-settlement schools within Nairobi’s Mathare and Embakasi South sub-counties, facilities such as hand-washing points have been rehabilitated or newly constructed, and new toilets installed to improve hygiene standards. The collaboration underscores the county’s commitment to building a healthier, more resilient early-childhood learning environment.
The impact of the hygiene drive is already being felt. ECDE teachers report more consistent hand-washing practices among learners, and parents say their children are less frequently falling ill. Health officials now plan to scale the programme across all 17 sub-counties by mid-2026, with expanded training, hygiene promotion clubs, and routine monitoring. If successful, Nairobi’s model could serve as a blueprint for integrating hygiene and early-childhood education in urban settings across Kenya.