Involvement of school-going children in matters of elective leadership has emerged as a key measure that provides a platform for them to articulate and find solutions to grievances affecting them.
Kajiado North Sub-county Children Officer Ms Nancy Kemunto said the State Department for Children Services is prioritizing child involvement in various societal issues that impact child welfare.
Speaking in Kiserian on the sidelines of the Kajiado North Children Assembly elections, Ms Kemunto noted that through the Assemblies, children get an opportunity to exercise their civic rights.
“The reason why we are here is to ensure that we have given a platform to our children to exercise their civic rights by electing their leaders and that is child participation, which is very key in a child’s life,” she stated.
The Children Officer said CAP 141 of the Children Act and the Kenyan Constitution 2010 recognise child participation at all levels.
“It is just a way of exercising what even the law mandates us to do and we are guided by the laws of Kenya, which is the Constitution of Kenya and also CAP 141 of the Children’s Act that ensures a child participates at all levels of ground, where they can be able to speak,” Ms. Kemunto reiterated.
Jasmine Sianto, a learner at Olekasasi Comprehensive School and one of the Kajiado North Children Assembly presidential candidates, said children face certain challenges which require platforms for redress.
“The reason as to why I’m running for this seat to fight for children’s rights. Through me I can bring children’s concerns to be heard and there are some problems which a student cannot tell maybe his or her parents but through a leader like me, his fellow student, I can tell his parents or another leader,” Sianto said.
She said the position would further allow her to understand more about the challenges that children are facing both at home and school.
Prudence Njiru, a student from Kiserian Comprehensive school and Governor candidate said the children assemblies also expose the child to processes involved in the voting exercise and the qualities to consider while choosing leaders.
“As for myself, I have four years to vote, like for the country’s President and so it helps us to know the protocols, what to do in an election and how to choose your leaders,” she stated.
At the same time, stakeholders attending the children Assembly elections listed some of the challenges confronting the child.
Director, Nyumba ya Tumaini and the Child Protection Practitioner, Ben Muia, said children face a number of challenges ranging from drug and alcohol abuse, family separation and absentee parents in addition to poverty which hinders their educational prowess.
“Some of the challenges that make these children not go to school are simple things like uniforms and these are matters that actually affect these children seriously,” he explained.
Under the theme ‘My Right, My Future’, the exercise brought together children from various comprehensive schools within Kajiado North Sub-county, who participated in electing their officials.
The positions up for grabs included the President and his or her Deputy, the Governor and his or her Deputy, the Speaker as well as the Clerk among others.
By Douglas Namunane and Wangari Ndirangu
