Learning Unpacked

Honoured to moderate a powerful inter-agency dialogue on Values-Based Education (VbE) and Social Emotional Learning (SEL).
Today’s panel brought together government agencies and partners, KNEC, KICD, TSC, and UNICEF, to unpack the progress, momentum, and partnerships shaping Values-Based Education and Social-Emotional Learning in Kenya.
The discussion clearly demonstrated that strong structures are already in place, with significant work underway to ensure that children at the margins and those in displacement are fully included in the national education agenda. It was encouraging to see how policy, curriculum, assessment, teacher development, and community partnerships are aligning around equity, inclusion, and learner wellbeing.
Grateful to the distinguished panellists for their insights and to all participants for the rich engagement. This is a strong reminder that sustained collaboration is critical to translating policy into meaningful impact for every child.
📸 Sharing moments from the podium and highlights from our excellent panel discussion.

Over the past five days, I had the privilege of participating in the KEMI International Conference 2026, an enriching experience that brought together educators, researchers, policymakers, and practitioners committed to strengthening education leadership.
Throughout the conference, conversations moved beyond theory and research to the practical realities faced by schools and education systems. What stood out was the openness with which participants engaged, challenging assumptions, sharing lived experiences, and reflecting honestly on what it takes to turn principles into practice.
On Day 4, I contributed as a panelist in a discussion on Technology Leadership and Preparedness. We explored an important shift in thinking: technology is not just about tools or infrastructure, but about leadership readiness—how leaders prepare people, align systems, build capacity, and make ethical, forward‑looking decisions in an increasingly digital education landscape.
On Day 5, I was honoured to chair the closing day of the conference. The day featured a keynote on science, innovation and leadership, panel discussions that linked research to policy, round‑table conversations with senior school leaders, and final reflections that challenged us to think about sustainability. A key question echoed across sessions:
How do we ensure that our leadership decisions and practices endure beyond projects, policies, and timelines?
Equally meaningful was the opportunity to reconnect with educators I have prepared, partnered with, and collaborated with over the years, while also forming new professional relationships. These connections remind us that leadership development is deeply relational and learning never truly ends.
As a consultancy working at the intersection of leadership, technology, policy, and practice, we reaffirmed a core belief: transformation happens when dialogue leads to action and when leaders design for sustainability, not quick wins.
The conference may have ended, but the learning, reflection, and work continue.

Thank you for reading our work

Gioko A. B. Maina | Achievement See this researcher's achievement on ResearchGate.

With Becky Mbeke – I just got recognised as one of their top fans! 🎉

Our Founder at the Conference

Big thanks to

Becky Mbeke, Joel Kahindi

for all of your support! Congrats for being top fans on a streak 🔥!