Kerugoya: The Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), via its Kirinyaga Central County Office, facilitated the electoral process at Kerugoya Municipality school, aiming to educate students about democracy and governance.
According to Kenya News Agency, the event was an educational endeavor to expose pupils to the electoral process, emphasizing the importance of democracy, good governance, and the role of the Commission in Kenyan elections. The preparations included collaborative sessions with stakeholders, including the school administration, teachers, candidates, and students, where IEBC officials conducted voter education. These sessions covered marking ballot papers, casting ballots, and the roles of poll officials. Candidates learned about their responsibilities before and during elections.
For the elections, IEBC officials brought necessary materials, set up classrooms as polling stations, and established a tallying center. James Mwangi, the IEBC Returning Officer for Kirinyaga Central, emphasized the significance of early exposure to the electoral system as part of the Competency-Based Curriculum (CBC), stating it helps students understand national leadership structures and prepares them for future leadership roles.
The election process included selecting the school president and deputy, with teachers serving as presiding officers and IEBC officials acting as observers and returning officers. The voting concluded with the tallying of ballots, completion of results forms, and formal announcement of outcomes. Roy Munene and Sheila Mutegi were elected President and Deputy-president, securing 209 out of 363 valid votes. They pledged to represent their peers effectively, particularly in co-curricular activities.
Solomon Munene, Manager of Kerugoya Municipality School, expressed gratitude to the IEBC and students for ensuring a successful election. He highlighted the election’s purpose of enabling student participation in school management and improving their welfare. He noted that involving the IEBC aligns with the new curriculum’s goal to mentor students for future leadership roles and instill values of patriotism and integrity.
Kirinyaga Central Sub-County Director of Education, Lucy Mbai, emphasized the importance of involving pupils in school management as per the Basic Education Act. She advocated for proper training for elected student leaders in areas like peer representation and communication skills. Mbai also encouraged clear role definitions for all leadership positions and alignment with Ministry of Education guidelines, noting that student leadership can prevent crises and improve communication between students and teachers.