Scramble for Gen Z as leaders eye 11m new voters in 2027

With the 2027 general election on the horizon, Kenyan political parties and candidates have turned their attention to Generation Z — an emerging bloc of roughly 11 million potential voters who have become a prime focus for campaigners. In recent months, entities such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and several major parties have emphasised youth registration drives, viewing young first‑time voters as pivotal to electoral success.
The scramble for Gen Z support is underpinned by hard numbers: the IEBC projects that about 5.6 million new registrants will come from the youth segment, while survey data suggest the under‑24 cohort may account for more than half of the electorate by 2027.
Political parties including the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Wiper Democratic Movement (Wiper) are now tailoring mobilisation efforts to this demographic — launching social‑media campaigns, hosting youth forums and pressing young Kenyans to secure national IDs and register to vote.
Despite the outreach, the registration campaign is facing early headwinds: reports from the IEBC show limited turnout at registration centres and continuing delays in ID issuance, both of which could dampen youth participation.
The mounting youth focus has stirred reactions across political and civic circles. Supporters argue that the engagement reflects a maturing of Kenyan democracy, with youth now an indispensable constituency rather than a sidelined demographic. Critics, however, caution that many of these efforts remain superficial — emphasising numbers and slogans over meaningful participation. Some young people warn they are being wooed for votes rather than given a voice in policy‑making.
Looking ahead, how well political actors convert this youth potential into real turnout and influence will be decisive: a mobilisation surge could reshape coalition mathematics in 2027, while failure to engage meaningfully might leave this generation’s power untapped — or worse, disappointed.