THE EFFECT OF RESOURCE ALLOCATION ON EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT (ECD) SERVICE DELIVERY IN KAJIADO COUNTY, KENYA
Abstract
The devolution process in Kenya was expected to improve the delivery of services through increasing their accessibility and tailoring the approaches in accordance to the targets. However, as with any other process, devolution process has faced a number of challenges in Kajiado. Some of the challenges include, poor funding of ECD by the county governments, lack of technical human resource within the county governments and poor policy and legislation on provision of ECD services. Teacher-to-child ratios in many centres exceed the recommended 1:25 ratio, whereby some centres have ratios as high as 1:40. This study aims to fill these gaps by investigating the effects of ECD devolution on service delivery in Kajiado County. The study aimed to determine the effect of resource allocation on ECD service delivery in Kajiado County. A descriptive research design was employed, targeting 439 respondents comprising ECD teachers, County and Sub-County ECD coordinators, and Ward administrators, with a stratified random sample of 209 respondents. Data was collected using semi-structured questionnaires and interviews, while a pilot study conducted in Machakos County ensured validity through expert review and confirmed reliability with Cronbach’s alpha values above 0.7. Quantitative data was analyzed using SPSS version 26 through descriptive and inferential statistics, and qualitative data was analyzed thematically. The findings revealed that resource allocation for ECD services in Kajiado County has significantly improved since devolution, with increased funding, enhanced transparency in fund management, recruitment of qualified teachers, and better provision of teaching and digital materials alongside timely supply replenishment. Resource allocation also supported school feeding programs, co-curricular activities, and special needs education, reflecting the broad impact of devolution. Correlation and regression analysis confirmed a positive and significant influence of resource allocation on ECD service delivery. The study concluded that effective resource distribution, adequate funding, and deployment of qualified teachers, as well as support for essential programs, are crucial in strengthening the quality and accessibility of ECD services. It recommends sustained equitable allocation by ensuring consistent funding, provision of adequate teaching and digital materials, expanded support for children with special needs, strengthened teacher recruitment, and reinforced transparency in fund management to ensure efficient use of resources.
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