Joel Mwita: The youth devoted to electoral governance

Joel Mwita, a 31-year-old young Kenyan leader, has been vouching for active youth involvement in the electoral processes.

With a strong background in electoral governance, management, public administration and peace building, Mwita shared his insights with the Star.

Tell us a little bit about your education background.

I hold a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies with Information Technology Degree from Maseno University.

I am currently pursuing a Master of Arts in International Studies at the University of Nairobi.

I have additional professional training and certifications: Election Observation from University College London, Public Administration Management from Beijing Jiaotong University- China, Voter Education from BRIDGE, Peace Support Operations Logistics, International Humanitarian Law, and International Small Arms Control Standards Assessment Tool from the International Peace Support Training Centre (IPSTC), Mediation Training from the Netherlands Institute of International Relations, Clingendael,  Strategic Leadership  and Management from Amref International University, Accounting from Strathmore University, Kenya School of Government among others 

When did you get interested in electoral governance?

Over the past 11 years, I have passionately committed my expertise to electoral governance, public administration, community security, peace building and conflict prevention.

My primary focus has been on youth engagement in fostering electoral participation, national cohesion and integration.

What are some of the highlights of your career?

In 2022, as an independent Chairperson of the multi-sectoral IEBC Youth Coordinating Committee, I led the training of 1,500 Trainers of Trainers (ToTs) on voter education across the country, contributed to the development and review of voter education materials, and trained 112 youth-serving organisations on electoral processes.

These efforts bolstered voter registration, verification, voting and enhanced peaceful post-election outcomes among young people.

In 2017, as Secretary General of the Universities and Colleges Students Peace Association of Kenya (UCSPAK), I played a pivotal role in securing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with IEBC, facilitating the opening and deployment of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits to institutions of higher learning in the country.

This ensured that students could register as voters in school and vote at their local polling station without the inconvenience of travelling to their homes to register during the registration process. This ensured greater participation of youth in the electoral process.

In the same year, I was privileged to secure and sign a Grant from the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) represented by its President and CEO.

The Grant was utilised to promote and enhance youth participation in Electoral processes. 

I also served as a liaison between key ministries - including the Ministry of Interior and National Administration, Ministry of Education, and Ministry of Youth, Sports, and the Arts - as well as development partners to advance national priority actions in promoting youth participation in elections and governance.

These initiatives significantly boosted youth voter registration and participation in the 2017 General Elections.

My contribution and experience in this area are well documented in my publication, “Increasing Meaningful Youth Participation in the Electoral Processes in Kenya” (November 2018), published by Lambert Academic Publishing (LAP) in Germany.

Additionally, I have successfully mobilised more than Sh250 million from partners, including UNDP, European Union, Royal Danish Embassy, DIAKONIA, and IFES, for governance, peace, and youth empowerment programs in Kenya.

Do you have any experience outside the country?

I have extensive experience in election observation at both national and international levels. Since 2016, I have participated in election monitoring with organizations such as Elections Observation Group (ELOG), International Republican Institute (IRI), National Democratic Institute (NDI), and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK) among others.

Internationally, I have observed elections in Somaliland (2018) and Tanzania (2020).

On the policy front, I have provided technical support to National Parliamentary Technical Groups in reviewing electoral laws and advocating for youth-inclusive electoral reforms.

I have led research initiatives for UNDP, including the application of UNSCR 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security. My work has contributed to the National Action Plan on Youth and Peace building in Kenya (2020), the National Border Security Action Plan, and Kenya’s National Action Plan for implementing UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions.

What would you wish to change in the electoral landscape in Kenya?

With declining youth voter participation, Kenya needs innovative and inclusive interventions to enable IEBC to enhance youth engagement and inclusivity in electoral processes to ensure a transparent, free, fair and credible elections in accordance to Article 81 of the Constitution, and strengthened partnerships with stakeholders to boost electoral integrity.