NAIROBI, Kenya — PLO Lumumba has attributed the low voter registration among Kenya’s Gen Z to a deep-rooted belief that elections are predetermined, warning that the 2027 polls could expose a widening trust deficit between young citizens and electoral institutions.
Speaking on Citizen TV’s JKLive on Wednesday night, Lumumba said many young Kenyans have lost confidence in the ballot after years of disputed elections, unaddressed irregularities, and recurring political tensions.
He noted that a significant segment of Gen Z sees voting as a powerless ritual rather than a tool for meaningful change.
“There is this feeling that the ballot is rigged and that therefore the ballot is not the avenue,” Lumumba said. “I, however, say that young people should come out in millions; democracy is protected by the vigilance of the population.”
His remarks come against the backdrop of the IEBC’s ongoing struggle to meet registration targets. According to recent updates shared in Parliament, the Commission is yet to achieve its projected numbers for newly eligible voters, despite the approach of the 2027 general election and increased emphasis on youth participation.
During the show, Lumumba argued that while disillusionment is understandable, disengagement only deepens the crisis. He urged Gen Z to reclaim the civic space by participating in high numbers, noting that sustained voter apathy hands political elites uncontested power.
“When young people withdraw, the system remains in the hands of those who manipulate it. It is participation that forces reforms,” he said.
Recent street demonstrations led largely by Gen Z further revealed a generation eager for accountability but largely sceptical of formal political channels. Their activism, conducted primarily through social media and decentralised mobilization, has been hailed as spontaneous, bold, and highly issue-based—yet not translating into structured electoral engagement.
Lumumba said that this energy should be channelled into institutional change rather than protest alone, arguing that credible leadership cannot emerge without electoral participation. He insisted that the path to reform—whether of the IEBC, political parties, or governance structures—depends on a vigilant and assertive electorate.
“The ballot may be imperfect,” he said, “but abandoning it gives room for the very injustices young people are protesting against.”
The conversation on JKLive has added new momentum to the national debate over youth disengagement, prompting calls for the IEBC, political parties, and Parliament to urgently rebuild public confidence. Proposed electoral reforms, including the reconstitution of the IEBC and digitisation of key processes, remain under discussion, though critics argue that the pace of reform remains slow.
As the 2027 elections draw closer, stakeholders warn that Kenya cannot afford another cycle marked by mistrust and low youth turnout. Lumumba’s challenge to Gen Z — to overcome disillusionment and protect democracy through vigilance — is likely to spark renewed pressure on leaders to deliver a credible, transparent and inclusive electoral process.
