Kisumu,30th July 2026- Kisumu County has hosted a Creative Activities Festival for Early Childhood Development and Education (ECDE), bringing together young learners, teachers and education stakeholders to showcase talent and promote learning through creative arts.
The event, held at Mama Grace Onyango Social Hall on Thursday, highlighted the county’s efforts to strengthen early childhood education by integrating music, drama, art and other creative activities into the learning process.
The County Executive Committee Member for Education, Technical Training, Innovation and Social Services, John Awiti, emphasized that the festival represents more than just a competition; it is a celebration of foundational development.
“The development of a child comes first before we talk of education. This is a very complex sector which most people don’t understand,” Awiti remarked. “Those of us who are in it know very well that we are laying the foundation. That foundation is emphasized when we ensure that the character building starts right down at the initial stage.”
Awiti noted that the county’s approach prioritizes social and emotional development, ensuring a conducive environment where every child can express themselves freely.
“We are very keen on ensuring that every individual kid gets an opportunity to express themselves and bring out the talent that is within them,” he said.
He expressed pride in Kisumu’s pioneering role, stating: “Kisumu County is a bit unique. We are the county that is doing this activity to this level. You will check around and you will find other counties have not reached this level.”
The County Executive acknowledged Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s unwavering support for early childhood education, including the recent recruitment of 120 ECD teachers.
“Just recently, last month, we recruited 120 ECD teachers. As we speak, we are going to put another request because we want the children to be handled by professional teachers,” Awiti confirmed.
Chief Officer for Education, Technical Training, Innovation and Social Services, Bovine Ochieng, described the festival as a culmination of activities from ward to sub-county level.
“This is the climax of the climax. This is one of the best of the best because we have been able to pick the best talents and the best creatives right from the ward level all the way to the sub-county, and now we are at the county level,” Ochieng stated.
He highlighted the festival’s role in nurturing tomorrow’s leaders through play and creativity.
“What we are doing today is nurturing talents at the formative stage, which is very critical and fundamental,” Ochieng explained.
The Chief Officer drew parallels between current investments and future outcomes, noting that the county is building the next generation of governors, presidents, innovators, and engineers.
“We are also nurturing a younger generation that are able to probably become future leaders,” he said, emphasizing the need to embed culture and moral values in early learning.
“Therefore, we want to just encourage all partners and parents, including development partners, that we need to actually work this out together because we need to collaborate,” Ochieng stated, calling for collective investment in foundational education for a sustainable future.
