Enhancing Children's Participation and the Enforcement of their Rights: The Kenyan Experience

The CRC, acrwc, the Children Act and the Kenyan Constitution envisage the participation of children by expressing their views in an effort to uphold their rights. The promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya of 2010 provided the impetus for developing a framework for establishing Children Assemblies. The Kenya Children Assembly (KCA) was adopted in 2010/2011 and coincided with the launch and operationalisation of the County Children Assemblies in all 47 counties. To increase children's participation, the Department of Children Services formulated operational guidelines for the Children Assembly which would enhance the Assembly's potential to reach margin-alised children. These guidelines seek to develop effective child participation at all levels - in families, communities, organisations and institutions - and to provide practice standards aimed at providing skills for effective engagement with children as well as to protect children from abuse during participation. Several methodologies engage children in adult forums: drama, role-play, music, poetry, painting, sculpture, print and electronic media, child-led initiatives, child clubs, child-to-child forums and daily life in families and schools. Since its inception, the Kenya Children Assembly has made a significant contribution to children participation locally and regionally.