NAKURU, Kenya- Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has pledged to place young people at the centre of leadership and decision-making in Nakuru if elected governor in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during the launch of the Bahati Chapter of the Democracy for the Citizens Party Youth League, Senator Karanja said young people must be given meaningful opportunities, representation and a role in shaping the county’s future.
The event was attended by Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina, who represented DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua.
Karanja said her proposed administration would not treat young people as spectators in county affairs, but as partners in leadership, policy and development.
“Young people are a critical pillar in driving our beloved Kenya,” she said, adding that her focus would be on ensuring they are fully included in governance structures if she wins the Nakuru governorship.
Youth inclusion in Nakuru agenda
The senator said her campaign would prioritise the concerns of young people, including access to opportunities and a stronger voice in decisions affecting their lives.
She said a better Nakuru would require deliberate inclusion of young people in leadership, planning and public participation.
Karanja is seeking to move from the Senate to the Nakuru governor’s office in 2027 on a DCP ticket, after leaving the United Democratic Alliance in October.
Her pledge at the Bahati launch places youth empowerment at the core of her emerging gubernatorial message as political leaders begin organising grassroots networks ahead of the next election.
The senator said young people should not be left behind in the county’s development agenda, describing them as essential to building a more inclusive and prosperous Nakuru.
Gachagua outlines DCP youth strategy
In a separate message, DCP Leader Rigathi Gachagua said young people were the driving force of the party’s grassroots expansion.
Gachagua said the potential of young people must be harnessed if Kenya is to realise its economic growth ambitions.
“Their energy, ideas and organising power are building DCP, village by village, ward by ward,” he said.
The DCP leader said the party’s commitment to young people must be reflected in opportunities to lead, influence the party’s agenda and participate in decisions that affect them.
“Their place is at the heart of DCP,” Gachagua said.
He praised the enthusiasm shown by young people in Bahati and said the launch of the local youth league chapter was part of a wider effort to strengthen the party’s structures across the country.
Grassroots mobilisation ahead of 2027
The Bahati launch adds to DCP’s efforts to establish youth networks at the grassroots as the party prepares for the 2027 elections.
The party has increasingly positioned young people as key players in its political organising strategy, with previous engagements focusing on training, participation and encouraging youthful aspirants to seek elective positions.
For Karanja, the youth launch provided a platform to link her Nakuru governor bid to a promise of inclusive county leadership.
Her entry into the gubernatorial contest is expected to sharpen political competition in Nakuru, where Governor Susan Kihika is widely expected to seek re-election.
The senator said her vision was to build a Nakuru where young people have representation, opportunities and a clear role in shaping the county’s future.
