Children of Nairobi County will gather at the Kenya Institute of Curriculum Development (KICD) today, Tuesday, April 19, to express their opinion on the issues affecting them and elect their leaders.
The Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) will elect the assembly, which will be held from April 19 to 21 this year.
Children will vote to elect the governor, deputy governor, speaker, clerk and sergeant at arms, as well as 44 delegates, who will serve for two-year terms.
At least 11 Nairobi sub-counties, including Mathare, Makadara, Njiru, Kibera, Langata, Dagoretti, Kasarani and Embakasi, have elected representatives in the ongoing elections.
Speaking to KNA about the upcoming event, Nairobi County Coordinator Children’s Services Mr. Hoyd Isadia said that the purpose of the assembly, which began in 2014, is to help children broadcast their ideas and provide input into policies affecting children’s affairs.
Mr. Isadia said that the occasion has empowered children to make a memorandum on education, making it easier for children to access the bursary.
“This platform is important because it enables children to contribute their ideas through public participation,” said the county coordinator.
“The benefits of children assembly have brought leadership elections in schools, and given children life and leadership skills,” Isadia said.
He said that members aged 11 to 17 are elected to serve on four subcommittees, including survival, conservation, participation and development, and that the committee’s findings are in the National Assembly to inform policy. are presented.
Children of Kibera sub-county share their manifesto ahead of the election to elect a representative to the Children’s Assembly at the sub-county level.
Survival subcommittees deal with birth certificates, health, medicine, vaccines and nutrition, while protection subcommittees deal with child labor, trafficking, child and drug abuse, online sexual exploitation and, sexually related. Abuse, neglect, physical abuse, female genital mutilation, and harmful cultural practices that affect children.
Development addresses issues such as informal and formal education, spiritual development, parental guidance and love, play and leisure, and helps children develop, while participation focuses on issues that children speak about.
Ms Valentin Maole, a Children’s Officer in the Nairobi County Coordinating Office, said there are special issues in the county that need a lot of attention in terms of child protection and protection policy in the areas of street children, child labour, children with disabilities and children. the wanted. abuse.
“These are areas where children can have a voice and input into policy before it becomes law,” Maole said.
He also said that in order to prevent online child abuse among children, the Children’s Department will continue to educate them and inform them about the channels through which such incidents can be reported.
