Nairobi, Kenya- The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is sounding the alarm over dwindling youth participation in Kenya’s electoral processes—from voter registration to last week’s by-elections.
Tensions flared on Tuesday during a post–by-election conference, where youth representatives and commissioners traded blame over who is responsible for the declining numbers.
Despite youth dominating the 2022 voter register, they were largely missing in action during the November 27 by-elections. IEBC Vice Chairperson Fahima Araphat blamed young Kenyans for staying away, while Commissioner Prof. Francis Aduol called the turnout “pathetic,” noting that most voters who showed up were elderly women.
What started as a routine stakeholder forum quickly turned confrontational. Youth leaders accused the IEBC of failing to communicate in ways that resonate with younger audiences.
Tabitha Oluoch of Siasa Place pointedly highlighted the commission’s digital shortcomings, noting the IEBC has barely 1,000 followers on TikTok and churns out “rigid” content that doesn’t appeal to youth.
Commissioners pushed back, insisting that the responsibility for civic participation is shared. Prof. Aduol questioned why Kenyans expect older commissioners to lead youth-centric engagement, pointing out that those over 60 account for just 5pc of the population.
His comments prompted immediate pushback from youth delegates like Fidel Ongoya, who urged the IEBC to take the matter seriously, saying, “This is our future.”
Low Registration Numbers Ahead of 2027
IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon stepped in to ease tensions, assuring stakeholders that the commission will ramp up its mobilization efforts ahead of the 2027 General Election. But the numbers paint a worrying picture.
Since continuous voter registration began on September 29, the IEBC has registered only 148,315 new voters as of December 5—an average of about 2,000 registrations per day nationwide.
Over the same period, 40,772 voters transferred polling stations, while 493 updated their personal details.
The commission hopes to register 6 million more voters before 2027—a target that hinges almost entirely on young Kenyans, who make up about 70pc of the potential voter population.
