Youth take the lead as Katisya declares Kitui senatorial bid

Kitui county assembly speaker Kevin Katisya /MUSEMBI NZENGU

Kitui county assembly speaker Kevin Katisya has declared his intention to contest the Kitui senatorial seat in 2027, framing his bid as a decisive break from the old political order that has long sidelined young people.

At 33, Katisya positions himself as a voice for the youth, arguing that attempts by young Kenyans to seek elective positions have often been thwarted through intimidation and political manipulation.

“I represent the youth population whose attempts to seek elective positions in the past have often been unfairly thwarted through intimidation and sabotage,” he said, emphasising that his campaign will confront entrenched political gatekeepers.

Speaking on a Kamba-language FM radio talk show on Monday, Katisya urged young people in Kitui to stand up and claim their space in leadership.

“The youth in Kitui must stand up and be counted. It is their time. They must say no to intimidation and blackmail and offer themselves for election,” he said.

Katisya, who recently resigned from the national executive council of Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Patriotic Front, said his declaration is meant to inspire fellow young people to pursue leadership positions without fear.

“Let my fellow youth know that I am seeking to be elected Kitui senator to open a new chapter where young people can take up leadership.”

He warned that seasoned politicians should no longer be allowed to make political decisions on behalf of the youth, as such practices perpetuate exclusion from leadership.

While affirming continued membership in the Wiper party, Katisya said he remains open to other political vehicles, emphasising that political parties are a means to an end.

“Political parties are not in short supply. Like any Kenyan, I have the right to join the political party of my choice,” he said.

Katisya recalled that the Wiper party did not back his bid to become speaker in 2022, yet he emerged victorious, defeating several seasoned political heavyweights.

He also highlighted his collaboration with President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government, noting that such partnerships ensure that Kitui county and the broader Ukambani region benefit from national government development initiatives.

“That is why I have decided to work with President Ruto, so that he can initiate more development projects in Ukambani and Kitui county in particular,” he said, pointing to projects launched during the President’s visit to Kitui last November.

Through his senatorial bid, Katisya is signalling a generational shift in Kitui politics—one where the youth are no longer passive bystanders but active participants shaping the county’s leadership and development trajectory.