Youths are not just votes! They must take their seats at the table of power

For decades, we’ve been told, “Youths are the leaders of tomorrow.” But somehow, that tomorrow never arrives. Every election cycle, youth are mobilized in droves to vote, chant slogans, cheer motorcades, and trend hashtags. Yet when the victory speeches are done and power is distributed, they’re shut out—again.

I’ve followed Kenya’s political landscape closely, especially after the 2024 Gen Z revolt—a moment of awakening that shocked the system. I expected the political class to finally get it: the youth are not just watching, they are thinking. They are questioning. They are demanding. Yet, with every passing day, I fear that 2027 will simply be another version of the same old story—a different forest, same monkeys. The current tribal mood tells it all.

Everybody wants the youth vote. The millions of young Kenyans—hungry, jobless, informed, and angry—have become the most prized political currency. But here’s the irony: no one is building serious platforms, parties, or agendas that genuinely empower and involve youth. All we hear is “Vijana watatupea kura!” But what are you giving in return?

Where are the mentorship programs that elevate youth from voters to viable candidates?
Where are the party primaries that give youth fair chances to contest?
Where are the resources to support youth-led policy think tanks, civic education drives, or campaign teams?

Politicians must understand this: the youth don’t want tokens—they want tools. They don’t want promises—they want platforms. This country can no longer afford a type of politics that sees young people only as means to an end.

Let’s change the script. We must reframe our politics to place youth at the center of national decision-making. From MCAs to MPs, Senators to Governors, and yes—even State House—we must normalize the presence of young, prepared, and principled voices. Not just for optics, but for real outcomes.

And to the youth: we must rise beyond clout-chasing and reactive outrage. We must organize, educate, and prepare to contest. Let’s build networks, study the Constitution, and enter the rooms where decisions are made. No one will hand us power—we must claim it. But we must claim it with vision, values, and strategy.

Kenya doesn’t just need youth to vote. Kenya needs youth to lead the transformation we’ve been yearning for.