Keep off! MP Amisi warns politicians against hijacking ‘Tuko Kadi’ movement

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has cautioned politicians against interfering with the fast-growing “Tuko Kadi” movement.

He urged leaders to instead support the youth-driven initiative without exploiting it for political gain.

“Tuko Kadi” — a Sheng phrase meaning “we have the card” — is a viral Gen Z-led campaign encouraging young Kenyans to register as voters ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The movement has gained significant traction online, particularly on TikTok and X, where young people are sharing images and videos of their voter registration cards as a show of civic participation.

In a post on X, Amisi emphasised that the initiative belongs to young people and should remain free from political manipulation.

“Tuko Kadi is a Gen Z initiative and politicians should keep off,” he said. “Support the movement but do not take advantage of them.”

The legislator warned that past youth-led movements had been derailed after being co-opted by political interests, pointing to the aftermath of the June 25 Finance Bill protests.

“June 25th revolution was hijacked by broad-based maniacs and politicians, making the journey to Canaan longer than expected,” Amisi said.

He further lamented that opportunistic actors, including some in the creative and civil society spaces, had commercialised youth struggles for personal gain.

“Later, musicians, artists, showbiz celebrities, TikTokers, paid bloggers and some unscrupulous civil society personalities commercialised the agenda, making money while youths were abducted, disappeared and killed,” he added.

Amisi urged leaders and public figures to allow the younger generation to lead what he described as a defining moment in their civic journey.

“Please allow the Gen Z generation to undertake their cardinal duty of their lifetime; fight for economic emancipation, economic recovery and economic renaissance,” he said.

He warned that those unable to genuinely support the movement should refrain from exploiting it for visibility or personal branding. 

“If you cannot support them genuinely, at least stop taking advantage of their hashtags and initiatives for personal aggrandisement or to rekindle one's dwindling brand publicity. Kenya needs a renaissance!” he stated.

The “Tuko Kadi” initiative aims to boost youth voter registration through the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), targeting millions of unregistered young voters across the country.

The trend has been amplified by digital influencers, including Wabosha Maxine, who documented the voter registration process, and photojournalist Allans Ademba, who helped organise mass registration drives in Nairobi’s Kasarani area.

Comedian Eric Omondi has also backed the campaign, stressing that it is not aligned to any political party or individual and warning against attempts to hijack it.