Kenya's Youth Demand a Seat at the Table: Political Participation Beyond Rallies

Kenya's Youth Voice: A Call for Greater Political Participation Nairobi, Kenya – May 30, 2025 – A recent discussion on Spice FM highlighted a critical issue facing Kenya's youth: their limited influence in political decision-making. Noordean Khagai, a participant in the discussion, argued that despite the legal requirement for public participation, young people are often sidelined. "Political parties often use youth for rallies and chants," Khagai stated, "but when real decisions are made, they send one youth rep who usually gets overpowered." This observation underscores a systemic problem where the energy and enthusiasm of young people are harnessed for superficial political gain, while their voices are muted in crucial policy discussions. Khagai's comments reflect a growing concern among Kenyan youth about their political marginalization. The lack of meaningful youth representation leads to policies that may not adequately address their needs and aspirations. The conversation on Spice FM serves as a platform to amplify these concerns and push for more inclusive political processes. The discussion also touched on recent attempts by some political parties to incentivize youth participation by waiving nomination fees for candidates under 35. While seemingly positive, Khagai suggests this may be a superficial gesture, not addressing the underlying power imbalance. Moving forward, fostering genuine youth participation requires more than symbolic gestures. It necessitates structural changes to ensure young people have a real and effective voice in shaping Kenya's future.