Gen Z absence in mini-polls leaves nation's hopes for change in limbo

They were the loudest voices on the streets and the greatest casualties of the government’s brutal crackdown on the 2024 protests. On social media, they have been leading calls for a generational change in leadership and the transformation of the country’s leadership.

But when the opportunity for change came in the recent by-elections, they were absent. Except for a few who became goons for hire for power-hungry politicians seeking to disrupt the mini-polls, Gen-Z seemed to abandon the cause.

Some argued that the by-elections had come too soon and that they were not yet registered following delays in the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Others dismissed the exercise as a predetermined event.

Across several polling centres, the pattern was clear: elderly men and women arrived early and queued patiently, while groups of youths lingered around campaign convoys, aspirants’ homes and market centres instead of heading to vote. Some even resorted to sharing fake polls and results on social media as the exercise unfolded.

Observers say Gen Z remains a potent force and their full inclusion in the voter register could be a game-changer in the 2027 General Election.

In Malava, Ugunja, Kasipul, Magarini, Mbeere North, Baringo, and Nyamira, Gen Z largely stayed away from the mini-polls, while the elderly participated, albeit in low numbers. In some areas, not even having one of their own on the ballot motivated Gen Z to turn up.

In Kasipul constituency, ODM’s Boyd Were, a Gen Z candidate, won in a landslide, but his victory came without Gen Z support, as veteran ODM politicians led a robust campaign on his behalf.

His counterpart in Magarini, 25-year-old independent Amos Katana, who campaigned on foot due to limited resources, fared far worse, securing just 182 votes.

Their absence cleared the way for veteran politician Harrison Kombe, in and out of government since 2002, to return to power with minimal resistance, garnering 17,909 votes.

Observers noted that a combination of failure to register as voters and political violence contributed to the low Gen Z turnout.

Kennedy Onunga, a Gen Z in Kasipul constituency, said many young people were not captured in the latest voter registration, keeping most of them off the IEBC voters’ register.

“The voter register used in the Kasipul by-election was the same one from the 2022 General Election. IEBC has not registered voters in Kasipul since then, which explains the low Gen Z turnout, they simply could not vote,” Onunga explained.

Wycliff Ochieng, another Gen Z, raised concerns that the violence before and during the by-election further discouraged young voters.

“The level of violence we witnessed in Kasipul was appalling. That is why many Gen Zs decided to stay away from voting,” Ochieng said.

Samwel Owida, a political analyst, noted that many Gen Zs are not keen on registering as voters, which explains their absence from the IEBC voters’ list.

Owida argued that for many young people, the excitement of political campaigns matters more than actually voting.“Political campaigns are thrilling because of tokenism. Many Gen Zs gather to cheer politicians but when it comes to voting, they are rarely seen at polling stations,” he said.

He added that many Gen Zs are occupied with academic or economic activities away from their constituencies, making it difficult to return home to vote where they are registered.

“A number also feel that taking handouts from politicians is important, but casting a vote adds little value to their lives,” Owida explained.

Poor representation

Monitors of the November 27 mini-polls in Magarini noted that most of the 27,808 voters who turned out were women.

Magarini returning officer Joseph Mwafondo said the constituency has 80,128 registered voters, but only 34.7 per cent participated in the by-election.

Katana, a clinical medicine graduate from Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), had earlier said that despite lacking funds, he represented change and expected young people to support him, but he was mistaken.

In an interview, the youngest and only Independent candidate said Magarini remained underdeveloped due to poor parliamentary representation and he believed he was best suited to give the constituency a fresh start.

“I have been eager to provide leadership that inspires hope among residents, especially the youth,” Katana said. “I want to base my leadership on consultation and listening to the people rather than imposing projects on them. This will restore hope to my people who are currently hopeless due to poverty and lack of infrastructure,” he said during the campaigns.

However, his comments seemed to resonate little with Gen Z voters.

Observers in the Magarini by-election, led by Mombasa lawyer Aboubakar Yusuf, expressed concern over the youth’s refusal to use the ballot to drive change.

Haki Afrika, Vocal Africa and Formaction described Gen Z’s absence as a major disappointment to Katana, who had prepared to represent their aspirations. Yusuf called for intensified voter education to address low turnout and the youth’s lack of interest in voting.

“There is a need for more voter education and digitized tallying of votes to speed up the electoral process,” he said.

He said they also observed high voter illiteracy, where many people had to be assisted to cast their votes.

Mweupe Khalfan, the Coast coordinator for Formaction, wondered why the Gen Zs agitated for political change yet refused to participate in the Magarini by-election.

In Malava, the long-promised Gen Z political wave was nowhere to be seen during the by-election. As elderly voters braved the morning cold to cast their ballot, the youths were nowhere to be seen.

Despite their heavy presence at political rallies and online activism spaces, many youths failed to translate their influence into votes. Their absence has raised concerns over their actual commitment to driving change through the ballot.

In Ugunja Constituency, young voters stayed away from the ballot in the mini polls, staging what observers describe as a silent protest against what they see as an imposed leadership and a political culture that sidelines their voice.

Despite more than three youthful aspirants appearing on the ballot, polling stations recorded low youth presence throughout the day.

Election officials noted that early-morning crowds consisted largely of older voters, with IEBC and political leaders continually urging more residents to turn out as voting progressed.

“They only remember us during elections. When decisions are being made, our views don’t matter,” said a 22-year-old resident who opted not to vote.

Predetermined outcomes

The decision by the youth to stay away appears to have been intentional. Several young people interviewed said they saw no point in participating in a process they felt had already predetermined outcomes.

Others said that although young candidates were included, none of them genuinely represented the frustrations and aspirations of Gen Z.

“They think putting a young face on a party ticket is enough. But we want honest leaders who understand our struggles and not messengers of old politics,” said Evans Oluoch, a youth in Ugunja.

According to Ugunja Constituency Returning Officer Denis Omari, only 15,017 out of 60,114 registered voters turned out to vote, translating to 24.98 per cent turnout. ODM’s Moses Omondi was declared the winner after he garnered 9,447 votes, trouncing his closest rival Orodi Odhiambo of Wiper Party, who managed 1,819 votes.

Francis Omudasia, a youth, said that the young generation increasingly treats elections as an income-making period rather than a civic responsibility.

Report by Harold Odhiambo, Mary Imenza, Patrick Beja, Jane Mugambi, Isaiah Gwengi,  and James Omoro