Gen Z apathy: Clamour and protests fail to translate into voter turnout

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission/FILE

Political bigwigs will be forced to rethink their 2027 campaign strategies as the country confronts a troubling rise in voter apathy among the youth, particularly the Gen Z demographic.

Analysts warn that unless parties and aspirants redesign their messaging and engagement tactics, a large share of the youth vote — long considered a game-changer — may slip beyond their reach.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has revealed when that Gen Z voters are significantly absent from the ongoing continuous voter registration.

Commissioner Francis Aduol described youth participation in the November 27 by-elections as “pathetic”.

The IEBC is undertaking a new, data-driven approach to tackling the pervasive problem of voter apathy. Rather than immediately launching large-scale civic education campaigns, the commission is prioritising targeted research into 24 by-elections to diagnose the root causes of non-participation.

The key to unlocking voter turnout lies in understanding the complex reasons why millions of Kenyans, particularly the youth, are staying away from the ballot box.

Their absence from registration centres and polling stations contrasts with their strong presence in public discourse and activism.

The mismatch between their online and street-level activism and their participation in formal electoral processes has concerned the IEBC, political figures and parties.

IEBC commissioner Anne Nderitu said the electoral agency expected the politically vocal youth — who have been at the forefront of recent reform campaigns and anti-government protests — to translate their activism into voter registration and turnout.

But that coveted voting bloc has not materialised. “We expected the young people who are on the street, talking about reforms, talking about change, will come and register so that through their vote, they can have their voice,” Nderitu said.

 She underscored that their demographic's strength gives them enormous democratic power.

“The vote is what can change your country,” she said. “You can do everything else, but your vote is your voice. It’s your weapon.”

According to IEBC data, 57 per cent of all eligible voters are under the age of 35. “Meaning, if these young people come and register — all of them — they have their voice,” Nderitu said. “They can say the type of leaders they want to govern the country.”

Commissioner Aduol said, “Very few young people came out to vote. A large number of those who voted were older citizens, and in Mbeere North, where I was, most were elderly women.”

IEBC vice chairperson Fahima Araphat issued a plea: “Kindly, young people, let us come out and register and let us prepare to vote come 2027.”

Political observers warn that top contenders who have been relying on the youth vote may well have to entirely rethink their strategies.

“The Gen Z vote is still elusive largely because so many of them are not registered voters, and they don't seem keen on registering because nobody is connecting with them emotionally,” political analyst Martin Andati said.

He said leading political formations are failing to resonate with young people. “Anybody relying on them at this point will be messed up big time!”

Andati also cited a pattern whereby youths are used as political goons or enticed with handouts, which keeps them politically engaged only at superficial levels, while discouraging them from turning up to vote.

“The youth need a lot of civic education so they know the value and importance of registering and turning up to vote,” he said.

Political commentator Charles Munyui attributed the disengagement to the failure of political players to articulate issues that matter to Gen Z.

“The campaigns never revolved around issues consistently raised by Gen Z, such as university funding, jobs, meritocracy, anti-corruption and fairness,” he said.

Munyui also said political parties sidelined the youth from the start by failing to conduct credible party primaries, which prevented Gen Z from fielding or supporting candidates who speak to their interests.

Even so, he said many young people doubt whether filling of elective posts through the current system would significantly change their circumstances.

He said structural barriers also discouraged participation during the by-elections.

“Most Gen Z are college students and likely registered at home,” he said. “It is unfair to expect a Gen Z who is living hand-to-mouth to pay Sh200 to travel to the constituency headquarters to register as a voter, but there will be an opportunity to do so when mass registration is undertaken and IEBC teams are available in are

Political aspirants eyeing State House have intensified efforts to court the youth, aware that the Gen Z demographic could shift the political balance in 2027.

The youth, who played a major role in recent anti-government demonstrations, have become the most coveted group for hopefuls seeking to challenge President William Ruto.

About 40 per cent of Kenya’s 22.1 million registered voters are currently under age 35.This number is expected to surge as more young people reach voting age.

The 2019 Kenya Population Census revealed that five million additional youths will be eligible to vote by 2027 — an estimated 2.4 million currently aged 13-14 and around two million who were under 18 in 2022.

This cohort represents a massive pool of potential voters, yet IEBC’s continuous voter registration figures show alarmingly low uptake.

As of December 5, the commission had registered only 148,315 new voters — far below expectations.

IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon said the commission aims to add 6.8 million new voters before the 2027 General Election, thereby expanding the voter base beyond its current 22.1 million.

“Our projection is based on records from the National Registration Bureau,” he said. “We anticipate registering all Kenyans who will have attained voting age by the time of the exercise.”

The commission has allocated Sh8 billion out of its Sh57.3 billion election budget to support voter registration.

According to census data, about eight million more young people will have entered the voting age bracket by 2027, making them the single biggest electoral prize for any presidential aspirant.

Analysts say the gap between Gen Z activism and participation in elections reflects deeper frustrations.

Many young say political elites do not take youth issues seriously and that elections rarely translate into meaningful change.

Additionally, the cost-of-living crisis, rampant unemployment, corruption scandals and distrust in public institutions have dampened their enthusiasm for voting.

Political parties, critics say, often prioritise loyalty, ethnicity, and patronage over merit, leaving the youth disenchanted as they clearly see that their concerns are overlooked.

Without genuine reforms — such as transparent primaries, issue-based messaging, and credible commitments to youth empowerment — the political class is likely to struggle to mobilise Gen Z.

With fewer than two years to the next general election, the IEBC and political actors face a narrowing window to reverse the tide of youth apathy.

If Gen Z turnout remains low, it could dramatically reshape the electoral map, empowering older voting blocs that traditionally demonstrate high turnout.

But if the youth decide to register and vote en masse, they could determine the presidency, majorities in Parliament and leadership in counties.

For now, the ball remains in Gen Z’s court — and the clock is ticking.