High Court stops National Youth Council elections amid transparency concerns

The High Court in Kisumu has temporarily halted the National Youth Council (NYC) elections after issuing conservatory orders stopping the electoral process pending the hearing and determination of a constitutional petition challenging the exercise.

Justice Alfred Mabeya issued the orders after hearing submissions from the petitioner's lawyer.

The court suspended the ward-level elections that had been scheduled for July 5, 2026, the constituency elections set for July 16, 2026, and the National Youth Congress elections slated for July 27, 2026, as published in Gazette Notice No. 5586 of April 17, 2026.

The judge further barred the respondents, their agents and servants from conducting or proceeding with the National Youth Council ward, constituency and national congress elections until they fully comply with the National Youth Council (Election of Certain Council Members) Regulations, 2021.

In addition, the court issued a mandatory injunction directing the respondents to publish a verified and publicly accessible final voters' register as part of measures aimed at ensuring the election process complies with the law.

The orders arose from a petition filed by Austine Ogalo, who argues that the planned elections violate the Constitution and the National Youth Council election regulations.

Ogalo contends that the election process lacked transparency, saying there was no publicly available final voters' register, no published list of cleared candidates, inadequate civic education, poor public communication on the electoral process, and a failure to establish and gazette constituency election steering committees and appoint election officials.

He argues that the alleged shortcomings violate constitutional provisions on transparency, access to information and youth participation, and risk disenfranchising millions of Kenyan youth.

Justice Mabeya said reasons for granting the conservatory orders will be contained in a detailed ruling scheduled for September 18, 2026.

Until then, the orders stopping the National Youth Council elections will remain in force pending the determination of the application and petition.