There were celebrations on Thursday at Moi Education Centre(MEC), Nairobi, as pupils elected Ashley Korir as their new President.
Ashley, a grade eight pupil together with her running mate Philemon Tireito led with 564 votes and will serve for one year.
The other contestants were Wayne Simwa and his running mate Vallary Cherono who managed 467 votes at position two.
Jayden King’ori with his running mate Ayana Khaseke got 77 votes to get position three.
Michelle Mwanzia and Jayden Gekara came fourth after garnering 49 votes.
In her speech, Ashley said she was grateful.
"I did not expect this kind of results. I am grateful to everybody who voted for me and I will do my best to deliver on my promises. I attribute my success to not making big promises that I cannot deliver,” she said.
Her immediate plans, she said, are to improve the washrooms by ensuring there are air fresheners and also installation of mirrors.
“I would like to ensure that pupils are given a chance to showcase their talents during assemblies and not teachers only as it happens,” said Ashley.
She also promised to ensure food service is improved.
Ashley thanked her running mate Philemon for the support and ideas. She also lauded her running mate for delivering Grade Seven votes.
And to Simwa, who emerged second, Ashley said: “Do not feel let down. It was just a time competition and you may win next time.,”
Simwa rejected the results, saying they were not free and fair. He vowed to lodge a petition.
"I don’t think it was fair, during voting. I overheard there was a teacher who was going around telling pupils not to vote for me. I just feel that it was not fair and we should do a re-election,” Simwa said.
Total votes cast were 1,228 votes as 71 were declared spoilt. The school elections were presided over by teachers representing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
Some 36 votes were cast earlier by pupils who had traveled to represent the school in a music festival.
The diaspora votes are those cast by eligible learners who cannot take part in the exercise on the voting day.
Moi Education Centre Principal Augustine Musyoka said the elections were, free, fair and verifiable and promised to investigate claims by the second candidate.
He said the elections were an avenue for their boys and girls to learn and experience what happens during the election process.
He said election is a topic they learn in classes on the electoral process.
“We also wanted our boys and girls to learn that integrity, transparency, accountability and honesty in elections is a key value so that when they grow up, they uphold these values,” said Musyoka.
He congratulated the winners.
“These are not leaders for tomorrow but for today and the future. We want them to learn that they can transform the society and when they graduate, they will transform the way we vote.”
Musyoka attributed Ashley's win to being articulate in sharing her manifestos, adding that she is confident and a good leader in the making.
The elections were a replica of the national General Elections. Three senators were elected to represent Grade Six, Seven and Eight and Governors for every class.
Gitonga Gitobu was elected Grade Six Senator with 86 votes.
Shanice Imali was elected Grade Seven Senator with 60 and Victoria Mwende Grade elected Eight Senator with 93 votes.
There were agents with reflector jackets and the thumbs of those who voted marked with indelible ink.
“The elected leaders form the Students Council and there is also the appointment of 10 Cabinet Secretaries by the President to be in charge of Environment, Order, Library, Sports, and Dining Hall among others,” said Job Cheserem, a teacher at the school and who was also the IEBC Commissioner representing the school.
The ballot boxes are the exact ones used by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) which provides them and are marked President, Senator and Governor.
