Kiambu County, 29 May 2025: In a significant move towards creating safer and more nurturing learning environments, stakeholders from across the education sector gathered to launch a new initiative aimed at ending corporal punishment in schools in the region.
Convened by LVCT Health, the introductory meeting of the LEARN Project brought together education stakeholders drawn from across the education and child protection sectors.
Participants included Directors from the Ministry of Education, Kiambu County, the Teachers Service Commission, and the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection. Senior officials from the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Gender, both at county and national levels, also attended. Additionally, Heads of Institutions from selected primary schools, Board of Management representatives, Parent–Teacher Association leaders, the TSC wellness team, and Quality Assurance and Standards Officers were present, ensuring diverse perspectives from schools, local authorities, and government.
The event marked the start of LEARN’s pilot implementation in Kiambu, which will test a whole-school approach to addressing corporal punishment through positive discipline, teacher wellness, learner life skills, and stronger leadership and community engagement.
Shared Commitment to End Violence Against Children
In his opening remarks Mr. Simon Wanjohi, the County Director of Education, Kiambu County called for collective responsibility in creating safer environments for children in and out of schools environments.
“The environments where our children live and learn must nurture them, not harm them. Together—as educators, parents, leaders, and communities—we can make school safety a shared reality,” Simon Wanjohi, County Director of Education,Kiambu County
The discussions acknowledged that, while corporal punishment is banned in Kenya, the practice is still a reality in many schools. Stakeholders emphasised that ending this harmful norm requires a whole-school approach that supports teachers, engages school boards and parents, and strengthens leadership accountability.
The State Department of Children Services built on this message, noting that efforts in Kiambu are part of a national priority. “This project reflects Kenya’s commitment under the National Prevention and Response Plan on Violence Against Children and the 2024 Bogotá Pledge. What we see in Kiambu contributes to a national vision: safe, inclusive, and non-violent schools in every county.”
Voices from the Meeting
“When learners don’t cooperate and we are under pressure to meet targets, the instinct has been to control through threats. But I’ve come to see that children are carrying burdens of their own. Punishment is not the solution.”
Another participant shared a vivid childhood memory of resisting the cane and later being shielded by family from violent discipline. Now serving in the Department of Gender, they reflected: “That experience shaped me. As a teacher, I vowed to treat learners with respect and care. This project is about making that commitment possible for every teacher.”
Teachers and Learners at the Centre
Teachers emphasised their need for training in ethics, child management, and stress reduction. The Teachers Service Commission Wellness Team presented their existing wellness programme, which includes counselling, peer learning, and behaviour change support. They highlighted how the LEARN pilot complements their mandate.
“A teacher who feels supported mentally and emotionally does not need to resort to the cane. Our wellness mandate and LVCT Health’s efforts through LEARN work together to strengthen safe, quality education.” – TSC representative
Learners, meanwhile, will benefit most when parents and caregivers, through PTAs and school boards, actively reinforce positive discipline and provide consistent support across school and home.
Emerging Priorities
The meeting identified several key areas for action:
- Mentorship for teachers, particularly for young professionals who need guidance and experienced teachers who require motivation to adopt new methods.
- Strengthening safety structures in schools, including functional safety committees and child protection mechanisms.
- Parent sensitisation through forums and information materials to shift norms around discipline and support positive approaches.
- Incorporating wider community actors such as chiefs, nyumba kumi leaders, and spiritual leaders into prevention and response efforts.
Together, participants envisioned their best version of a school: one where collaboration is routine, referrals are clear, parents are engaged, and communities take joint ownership of child safety.
Moving Forward
Closing the meeting, a representative from the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection stressed the shared responsibility of all actors: “Eliminating violence against children cannot be left to schools alone. Parents, teachers, communities, and policymakers must walk this journey together.” The State Department of Children Services further highlighted the need to ground the LEARN Project in national frameworks such as the Prevention and Response Plan and Kenya’s Bogotá Pledge, to ensure that county-level actions are tied to national and global commitments.
The next steps for Kiambu include the creation of a County Advisory Group, the roll-out of interventions beginning June 2025, and continued monitoring to ensure schools become safe, inclusive spaces where learners thrive.
Why This Matters
The LEARN Project is a pilot initiative that uses a whole-school approach to eliminate corporal punishment by replacing violence with positive discipline, life skills education, and stronger teacher and leadership support.
The Kiambu launch is more than a county milestone. It demonstrates how local action can drive national progress toward Kenya’s commitments under the Constitution, the Children Act, the NPRP, the Bogotá Pledge, and SDG 16.2. By linking schools, communities, and government, LEARN is building the foundation for a Kenya where children grow, learn, and succeed free from violence.
Story by Anne Ngunjiri and Festus Mutua (Reviewer)