What does it take to deliver quality education in communities where resources are limited, distances are long, and learning outcomes remain uneven? Across Kenya,this question continues to shape conversations about equity, access, and opportunity. In Wajir County, a practical response begins.

We have officially launched our Fellowship Program in Wajir County, marking a significant step in expanding its mission and vision to Kenya’s Arid and Semi-Arid Lands (ASALs). The launch brought together representatives from the Ministry of Education, led by Dr. Salome Maina, the Director of Education at the Office of the Director General, Wajir County Government, led by Mr. Yakub M.Dahiye the CECM for Education, Social Welfare, and Family Affairs, school leaders, and community members, reflecting a shared commitment to improving learning outcomes for children in the region.

Wajir County faces persistent education challenges, including teacher shortages, limited access to Early Childhood Development (ECD), and low foundational literacy and numeracy outcomes, that affect learner attendance and retention.
Our Fellowship Program seeks to respond to these realities. At the heart of the program are our Fellows, eighteen trained educators,
placed in six public schools across the county and primarily in Wair East Subcounty.
These schools include Furaha Primary School, Makaror Primary School, Volunteer Primary School, Jogbaru Primary School, Shaletey Primary School, and Barwaqo Primary School. The fellows will focus on strengthening foundational learning in the early grades, working closely with teachers, school leaders, and parents to improve classroom practice and learner engagement. These eighteen fellows
become the first cohort in Wajir County.

A key component of the program in Wajir is the integration of Learning Through Play, an approach that recognizes play as a powerful tool for learning, particularly in early childhood. Through this model, fellows and teachers are supported to create engaging, child-centered classrooms where learners develop literacy, numeracy, social, and emotional skills through structured play. The approach also encourages creativity, curiosity, and confidence among young learners, helping to lay strong foundations for learning.

Beyond classroom instruction, the Fellowship emphasizes leadership development and collaboration. Fellows work within existing education systems, partnering with schools and local stakeholders to strengthen capacity and promote sustainable improvement. This approach acknowledges that lasting change in education requires collective ownership and consistent support at the community level.

County government officials welcomed the initiative, noting its alignment with Wajir’s education priorities, particularly in strengthening ECD and improving learning outcomes in public schools. Representatives from the Ministry of Education reaffirmed their commitment to partnerships that complement ongoing government efforts to enhance access, quality, and equity in education.

Building on its work in Nairobi, Kisumu, and Machakos counties, Teach For Kenya’s expansion into Wajir marks a step in advancing its mission. As the first cohort of Fellows hits the ground, the organization moves closer to its vision of a Kenya where every child has access to a quality education regardless of socio-economic background.

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