Roots Academy Holds Student Council Poll To Promote Democratic Values

By Suleiman Mbatiah

Roots Academy Junior School in Gilgil, Nakuru County, held student council elections to instil democratic values and introduce learners to participatory leadership and civic responsibility.

The Saturday exercise mirrored national electoral standards, with secret ballots, clear procedures and supervised voting, as pupils elected their representatives for the 2026 calendar.

School administrators said the prefect system encourages inclusion in governance while nurturing confidence, accountability and leadership skills among learners from an early age.

Joan Ndegwa was elected president, with Wayne Moitalel as deputy president, following competitive campaigns that included formal nominations, speeches and issue-based engagement.

Principal Collins Oketch said the school deliberately creates democratic spaces to help learners practise leadership, responsibility and informed decision-making within a safe environment.

“We are proud of the maturity and integrity shown by candidates and voters throughout the process,” Mr Oketch said adding that the newly elected council is expected to represent student interests.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) supervised the one-day poll, applying official voting regulations to ensure transparency, order and credible outcomes.

IEBC returning officer Margaret Chege, who oversaw tallying, praised students for discipline, organisation and active participation during voting and counting.

“Leadership begins with participation, and these learners showed they understand how voting shapes communities and shared responsibility,” Ms Chege said.

The school has consistently involved the IEBC in student elections to bridge gaps in civic education and familiarise learners with national democratic institutions and model discipline and commitment.

Beyond academics, Roots Academy promotes holistic development through clubs and leadership programmes designed to prepare learners for social responsibility and public life.

Parents and teachers congratulated the new team, urging members to lead with humility, fairness and responsibility as they begin their leadership duties during the 2026 term.

The school posted exemplary results in the 2025 Kenya Junior School Education Assessment, with the Ministry of Education rating all candidates as exceeding expectations.

Principal Mr Okatch said the performance reflected a dedicated teaching team that fully implemented the curriculum, giving learners grounding in both theory and practical work.