Kenya stands at a defining moment. A moment when the power to rebuild, to renew and to reclaim our nation’s destiny rests squarely in the hands of her youth. For decades, young people have been told they are the leaders of tomorrow. Tomorrow has now arrived. It is here, and the time to act is now.
According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, more than 75 per cent of Kenya’s population is below the age of 35, and nearly 70 per cent of registered voters in the 2022 general election were youth.
Yet, despite these overwhelming numbers, youth turnout remained disappointingly low and the same recycled political class found its way back to office. If the youth of Kenya were to unite, register in full force and vote with one voice, no power on earth could stop them from transforming this country.
We witnessed something remarkable in 2024 and 2025 - the Gen Z revolution. Where hundreds of thousands of brave young Kenyans across the country rose to demand accountability, dignity and justice. They defied fear.
They challenged impunity. They forced the nation to pause and listen. Those days of passion and courage were not in vain. They rekindled hope in millions and reminded the powerful that Kenya belongs to all of us. Not just a privileged few.
Now, it is time for the youth to take that energy from the streets to the ballot box. The protests were the steps, elections are the stage and it is time for the youth to take centre stage in running the show – Kenya.
The youth have marched for good laws, for their fallen comrades and for justice. The time has now come for them to register to vote for the Kenya they have been demanding. Registering as a voter is not a favour to the system. It is a declaration of power. It is saying: I will decide the future of my country.
Imagine if every young Kenyan who protested for justice also registered to vote. The next election would not just be another contest, it would be a revolution through the ballot. The same unity that filled the streets with chants of “People Power” can fill ballot boxes with votes that end the reign of corruption, tribalism and betrayal.
The youth can usher in a new Kenya, one grounded on constitutionalism, rule of law and social justice. With their unity and focus, the oligarchy that has for decades run the country and decided who gets what, will crumble and be sent home.
Extrajudicial killings and disappearances can be a thing of the past. Femicide and gender-based violence can be a thing of the past. Corruption and maladministration can be a thing of the past. Through the ballot revolution, the youth can usher in new times of justice. Where each and every person is equal before the law, where development is felt in everyone’s pocket and where women and men, together, share the proceeds of development.
The Kenyan constitution, born out of struggle and sacrifice in 2010, gave us the tools to build a just society. Yet, those tools have been misused, ignored and abused by leaders who care more about power than people.
The majority of the current crop of leaders have served almost all previous governments. They have nothing new to offer. The country is rolling on a vicious cycle with no end in sight.
The youth can change that by registering to vote and showing up on election day. They can elect leaders who will uphold the constitution, protect our freedoms and put the people first.
However, we must go even further. Registering and voting are only half the journey. The other half is vying for leadership. The younger generation must stop complaining and waiting to be invited into power. They must step into it. We need young governors, young MPs, young MCAs and young women and men in the Senate and County Assemblies who truly represent the dreams and aspirations of a new Kenya. We need young leaders who understand the pain of unemployment, the frustration of corruption, the injustice of inequality and the urgency of climate change.
Let us not be afraid to lead. Leadership is not about age, it is about courage, integrity and vision. The youth of Kenya have proven that they have all three. The same boldness that stood firm against police bullets, teargas and intimidation can lead us through the ballot to State House, to Parliament and to every county office. The time for youth tokenism is over. The time for youth leadership has come.
The current younger generation is more
connected, more informed and more united than any before it. They have the
tools, from social media to civic networks, to mobilise, to organise and to
transform. We must now use that power to rebuild Kenya from the ballot upwards.
The time for change is now. The time for change is here. Let every eligible
Kenyan youth ensure they have registered to vote.
CEO, VOCAL Africa
