Niko Kadi: Young voters rise to challenge toxic politics
Youths in a peaceful procession on the streets of Mombasa during the 'Niko Kadi' voter registration campaign on March 24, 2026.
What you need to know:
- Young Kenyans have expressed disappointment with the current state of politics in the country
- The youths described the political insults as provocative, terming the situation as a ticking time bomb.
Young Kenyans agitating for a nationwide voter registration drive under the viral ‘Niko Kadi’ slogan have expressed disappointment with the state of politics in the country, vowing to push for change in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a procession to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices in Kizingo, Mombasa, the youths urged their counterparts across the country to play their part and exercise their constitutional right to choose good leaders during the coming elections.
Youths outside the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission offices in Mombasa during the 'Niko Kadi' voter registration campaign on March 24, 2026.
Ms Sheila Wanjiru, while registering as a voter at the IEBC offices, said the current political scene challenged her to come out and participate in the exercise, with a drive to make a firm decision during the next polls.
“Tuko Kadi means we have only one bullet and the bullet is my voter's card. We are tired with the way things are going in this country,” Ms Wanjiru said.
She said they are perturbed by the latest wave of personal attacks among the political class, taking issue with the use of denigrating words or language by politicians against their opponents.
The youths described the political insults as provocative, terming the current situation as a ticking time bomb as the country gears towards a campaign season.
They maintained that their resolve is not to emulate the leaders but to come out and show them how to promote peaceful co-existence, free from insults or hooliganism for political mileage.
Youths in a peaceful procession on the streets of Mombasa during the 'Niko Kadi' voter registration campaign on March 24, 2026.
Another Gen Z who registered as a voter, Ms Sumeiya Jamal, noted that her decision to do so will ensure that her will and choice of a leader will be respected.
“You (leaders) are the people who we should be looking up to but honestly this is disappointing. We all want our country to be run by a leader who listens to us but what they are doing now is showing us a bad example as the Gen Z,” said Ms Sumeiya.
Their motive is to get more newly registered voters across the country, vowing to traverse the entire Coast region to rally young people to join the movement.
The viral movement started as a sensitisational call on social media, which has since evolved into action in different parts of the country where young people are coming out to register as voters.
“We are partyless, we have no leader but our target is to have as many votes as possible in order to have a resounding voice in the coming General Election,” said Mr Charles Musyoka.
Youths in a peaceful procession on the streets of Mombasa during the 'Niko Kadi' voter registration campaign on March 24, 2026.
The ‘Niko Kadi’ phrase, which is now widely seen as a symbol of youth political awakening, has however elicited mixed reactions from political analysts. While some praise it as a renewed awakening among the youth, others are questioning their readiness to indeed walk the talk.
According to Ms Maimuna Mwidau, a political analyst, “it is really good to see the youth registering to vote and this is commendable but will they come out and vote?”
Civil society organisations lauded the drive, saying they will join the movement and call upon those in universities, at home, or even workplaces to spare time and be part of a journey to transform Kenya through the voice of young people.
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