Children in Nakuru County are expected to hold elections for leaders who will represent them at the Kenya Children’s Assembly slated for next week.

The assembly, which recognised in the 2010 Constitution is seen as the preliminary step towards democratic politics for Kenyan children.

The exercise will involve the election of children who will exercise their civic duties in Kenya by electing their peers aged 17 years and below to represent them at the national levels.

Nakuru County Coordinator for Children’s Services Pilot Khaemba said the exercise was critical to offer the children the platform to champion for their agenda both at the county and national level.

Khaemba emphasised that the assembly is a good opportunity for children to learn how to organise themselves and advocate for the agenda that promotes their welfare. Those elected will hold office for a minimum of one term of two years and a maximum of two terms.

The electoral offices include governor, deputy governor, speaker, deputy speaker, sergeant at arms, deputy sergeant at arms, clerk, deputy clerk and four house committee secretaries.

The Kenya Children Assembly was established in 2011 and has since been acting as a unifying organ that brings children from diverse ethnic and social backgrounds together. The assembly provides the children leaders with opportunity to communicate the government policies and development plans down to children in the village and get feedback through the devolved structures.

Similarly, the recommendations and outcomes of debates at the children’s assemblies are channelled to the county and the central governments.

Khaemba explained that the assembly will consist of 55 children’s representatives (one from each ward), three clerks appointed by the secretariat and four sergeant at-arms supported by the Scouts Association.

In addition, he added, the county secretariat will appoint 22 chaperones drawn from the 11 sub-counties to accompany and support the children during the launch of the assembly.

The coordinator noted that the assembly recognises children as active members of society who can identify their own needs and develop solutions and enables children to influence policy, law formulation and budgetary processes from their own perspective.

“The assembly is very important as it teaches children about their rights, legislative processes and national leadership structures. It further provides a channel for children to receive information on government development plans and offers feedback to county and national governments,” Khaemba explained the role of the assembly.

The assembly is managed under the State Department for Children Services domiciled in the Ministry of Gender, Culture and Children Services.

It aligns with Article 53 of the Kenyan Constitution and the Children Act 2022 that prioritise the best-interest of the child. He told the children to use structured channels like Kenya Children Assembly to convey their views and deliberate on issues affecting their lives.

Khaemba said the structures of the children’s assembly are important because they allow children to participate in policy, legislation ward elections, the returning officer shall submit a list of electors, list of five elected members and other issues that are of concern to children.

“The election secretariat shall appoint and name area assistant county commissioners (ACCs) as returning officers for ward elections. On ward election day, a mapped child-focused organisation shall convene bona-fide children as electors at a child-friendly venue,” he pointed out.

The coordinator indicated that the returning officer in consultation with the organisation may adopt simple secret ballot or show-of-hand or consensus for election purposes.

“Later, a returning officer shall constitute the five elected members into an electoral college to elect amongst themselves, one member to represent the ward in the county children assembly,” he stated.

• A Tell Media / KNA report / By Jane Ngugi