Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)

Your Vote, Your Voice: Why Kenya’s Youth Ought To Register As Voters

Every election season, the air in Kenya fills with political chatter, campaign songs, manifestos, and promises of a better future. Yet beneath the noise lies an uncomfortable truth: many young people, who make up the majority of the population, are still not registered to vote. According to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), as of the last general election, youth aged between 18 and 34 years made up about 40% of registered voters, even though they account for nearly 70% of Kenya’s population. This gap weakens the collective power of young people and limits their ability to influence policies that directly affect their lives.