Kenya’s youth are reshaping political participation. Digital activism, exemplified by Gen Z’s leaderless movements, has prompted national debates on issues such as economic justice and corruption. However, structural inequalities persist. High campaign costs, opaque nomination processes, and patronage networks favour established elites, marginalising many young aspirants. Tokenistic youth leagues, often seen as mobilisation tools rather than leadership pathways, highlight the disconnect between rhetoric and reality.

Youth play a vital role in Kenyan elections, both as voters and candidates. Youths, aged between 18 and 35, constitute the largest demographic in Kenya. However, data from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) show that the number of youths registered to vote in 2022 was 39.84%.

The dismal number of registered youth voters reflects the fact that young people show little appetite for elections, being disillusioned by the political class, which is viewed as corrupt and inept. Youth can also be candidates in elections, but they are not well represented in party leadership patronage politics that favour older generations. Financial constraints also make it challenging for them to run for office.

As the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise resumed on September 29, as part of IEBC’s preparations for the 2027 general election, all eligible Kenyans have been urged to register at any IEBC constituency office, except in areas currently undergoing by-elections.

Already, youth have been warned against voter apathy. Former IEBC commissioner Roselyn Akombe is the latest high-ranking individual to urge the youth not to shy away from participating in elections, warning that voter apathy only serves to strengthen incumbents.

In a statement, Roselyn Akombe acknowledged the frustrations of young and middle-class Kenyans, who often feel that their votes do not matter or that the system is manipulated against them.

“There are times you might feel that your actions don’t make a difference. That your one vote will not make a difference. The system is always manipulated against you. This is exactly what incumbents want to convey to keep you away from the ballot. They know that by taking agency and hope from citizens, they will thrive. Please do not give in to the deliberate narrative meant to discourage the youth and the middle class from voting. A low voter turnout always benefits the incumbent, just pick any country in the world and see the data,” Roselyn Akombe said on her X page.

Roselyn resigned from her position as a commissioner of the IEBC on October 18, 2017, during a period of crisis in the country, following the Supreme Court’s nullification of the 2017 presidential election. She fled to the United States amid death threats ahead of the presidential election re-run. She cited safety concerns and lack of transparency in the electoral process. Since then, she has remained a vocal advocate for governance and democracy.

Her remarks came amid growing debate over electoral reforms and rising concerns about declining voter registration among the youth.

The IEBC aims to register 6.3 million new voters before the 2027 general elections, with 70% of them being youth. As outlined in Article 83 of the Constitution, a person is eligible to register as a voter if they are a Kenyan citizen, at least 18 years old, and possess a valid Kenyan Identity Card (ID) or a valid Kenyan Passport. Additionally, they should not have been convicted of an electoral offence in the past five years, be of sound mind, or be listed on the current register of voters.

The first week of registration has witnessed a lukewarm start, sparking debate in political circles, with leaders warning the country’s youth that they risk being locked out of the ballot in the 2027 polls. Additionally, civil society groups have also weighed in, noting that political apathy among youth is being worsened by unemployment and the manner in which the exercise is done, which requires the physical presence of the applicants.