The 11th General Assembly of the World Scout Parliamentary Union (WSPU), the first-ever to be hosted in Africa, concluded successfully on Thursday at the Safari Park Hotel in Nairobi.
Over 150 delegates from 22 countries, including 78 Scout-affiliated Kenyan parliamentarians, gathered for a week of discussions under the theme “Parliamentary Scouts in SDGs, Creative Economy, and Climate Action.”
Held from November 6–13, 2025, the Assembly marked a milestone in strengthening global parliamentary collaboration in support of the World Organisation of the Scout Movement (WOSM).
Key outcomes included the election of new global leadership, adoption of the Nairobi-Nyeri Declaration, and endorsement of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to guide WSPU chapters worldwide.
The Assembly featured dual venues — Nairobi for plenary sessions and Nyeri for the parallel Youth Assembly held from November 6–9. The choice of Nyeri highlighted Scouting’s deep roots in Kenya, where founder Lord Baden-Powell spent his final days at PAXTU Cottage in the “Scout City of the World.”
Delegates explored sub-themes including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), creative innovation, climate action, education, tourism, culture, leadership, and governance. The discussions culminated in commitments aimed at advancing youth empowerment and sustainable development.
A major highlight was the election of new WSPU leadership.
Dagoretti South MP John Kiarie, who previously served as President of the WSPU Kenya Chapter, was elected Global WSPU President — becoming the first African to hold the position.
Kiarie, who led Kenya’s successful bid to host the Assembly during the 10th Session in Jeonju, South Korea (2022), expressed his vision to strengthen WSPU’s presence globally.
“As the first African Global President, I pledge to amplify Scout values in parliaments worldwide, turning the Promise into policies that propel the Sustainable Development Goals,” Kiarie said in his acceptance speech.
Nominated Senator Tabitha Mutinda, a long-standing advocate for environmental stewardship and gender equity, was elected President of WSPU Kenya.
Mutinda, who represented Kenya at the 2022 Jeonju Assembly and serves on the Senate Finance and Budget Committee, said the new leadership “empowers women and youth in Scouting’s parliamentary arm, ensuring inclusive governance for all.”
The Assembly unanimously adopted the Nairobi-Nyeri Declaration — an 11-point resolution drawn from youth deliberations in Nyeri and plenary debates in Nairobi.
The declaration calls on parliaments to promote climate-resilient agribusiness (SDG 2), AI-driven creative economies (SDG 8 and 9), non-formal education through Scouting (SDG 4), youth quotas in governance (SDG 16), and Scout tourism for cultural preservation (SDG 11).
Building on the 2018 Bangkok Declaration, it also proposes the creation of a Global Scout Climate Action Fund and closer collaboration between WSPU and WOSM to ensure youth participation in national SDG reviews.
In a complementary move, delegates approved new WSPU Chapter Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) — the first global framework standardising chapter formation, governance, and operations across 106 countries.
Aligned with WOSM’s Constitution, the SOPs introduce a 30 percent youth quota, annual SDG impact reports, and endorsement by National Scout Organizations, ensuring non-partisan advocacy for youth-focused policies.
“These SOPs transform WSPU from a network into a robust global movement,” said WSPU Executive Director Poppins Misoi.
The closing ceremony, hosted by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, featured a cultural dinner and symbolic campfire lighting to celebrate unity among delegates.
Kingi hailed the success of the event, saying:
“From Nyeri’s youth fire to Nairobi’s resolutions, this Assembly lights a path for Africa-led global change.”
Hosted by WSPU Kenya under the patronage of National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, the Assembly included courtesy calls to Parliament and participation by several national leaders. Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga commended the Youth Assembly for strengthening Nyeri’s reputation as a global Scouting destination.
In his closing remarks, Kiarie said: “Africa’s hosting signals a new era — one where Scout values drive parliamentary action for sustainable development, empowering four million Kenyan Scouts and billions worldwide.”
The next WSPU General Assembly, the 12th Global Session, will be determined at a future forum.
