In recognition of its advancements in early childhood development and child welfare, Kiambu County has been chosen to host the 2026 World Children’s Day celebrations on November 20.

Organized by the Ministry of Gender, Culture, and Children Services through the State Department for Children Services, the national commemoration is set to take place at Kirigiti Stadium, as recommended by the National Council for Children’s Services (NCCS).

Announcing the decision in a letter to Governor Kimani Wamatangi, NCCS CEO Abdinoor S. Mohamed noted the celebrations will focus on child welfare and awareness. This year’s theme is “Prioritizing Children Now, Shaping Our Future.”

Urging a unified approach, Mohamed invited Governor Wamatangi to appoint key county staff to collaborate with the State Department’s local coordinator amidst the accreditation of Kiambu’s standout achievements in early learning and ongoing child protection efforts as the driving force behind the decision.

Kiambu County stood out for its use of the Nurturing Care Framework in early childhood development, a model centered on health, nutrition, responsive caregiving, safety and early learning.

Central to the county’s reported progress is the successful rollout of five hundred and forty-five model Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centers designed to elevate early learning standards.

Alongside the distribution of free learning materials, the county supplies daily porridge, boiled eggs and milk to fifty-two thousand students under its comprehensive feeding program.

The county’s systemic approach to child advocacy was another key factor in its selection. The county recently launched a Care Reform Situational Analysis initiative and is actively developing a groundbreaking children’s policy to unlock crucial funding and deliver lasting support.

The planning committee selected Kirigiti Stadium due to its central accessibility for attendees. The national commemoration in Kiambu serves to spotlight Kenya’s broader achievements in early childhood development and care reform while serving as a peer-learning platform for other county governments.

Commemorated globally on November 20, World Children’s Day is a United Nations initiative established to annually honor the historic 1959 adoption of the Declaration of the Rights of the Child.

By highlighting these achievements during the national celebrations, the event will reinforce the importance of placing children at the center of national policy. The commemoration serves to mobilize both government and non-governmental stakeholders around a shared mandate of prioritizing children’s immediate needs and dedicating sustainable investment toward their long-term growth.

 by Hellen Lunalo