Most Gen Z voters intend to participate in the 2027 elections but challenges relating to voter registration are threatening the enthusiasm, a new study has shown.
According to the survey by data research firms OdipoDev and Tribeless Youth, the young people also lack trust in the electoral process, and this is further complicating matters for them.
The study, which examined the period following the Finance Bill protests, reveals that at least seven in ten young Kenyans plan to vote in the next General Election.
Protesters march along Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi during anti-Finance Bill demos on June 25, 2024.
Photo credit: Bonface Bogita | Nation Media Group
But it also warns that voter registration remains the single greatest obstacle, with low trust in the electoral system undermining the foundation of this new-found political engagement.
“The interviews we carried out revealed a great deal of distrust in IEBC (Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission),” said Ms Winny Jerotich, a youth and media researcher at OdipoDev.
“They feel there is a lot of political interference and that their vote will not count in the elections. This has prevented them from registering,” she added.
The study set out to understand the ‘Gen Z political dream’ — a vision defined by ‘new ways of doing politics, real accountability, and a government that delivers’.
The researchers discovered that Gen Z’s awakening to civic duty is being held back by an electoral process that they do not trust. They describe this as “high doubt in the credibility of elections”, a scepticism that not only depresses turnout, but also prevents many from registering as voters.
“Following the 2024 protests, Gen Z has expressed a heightened sense of civic responsibility and a stronger intention to vote. Yet low voter registration remains the biggest barrier to their participation. There is a bigger question of civic voter engagement among these Gen Z voters,” the study says.
Popularly known as Gen Z, this generation has since become actively involved in the country’s politics. While some had already registered before the 2022 elections, many more will be eligible voters in the next poll, making them the most significant demographic in the 2027 race.
Born between 1997 and 2012, this group is emerging not just as a voting bloc, but also as a cultural and political movement. They have refused to identify with any of the major political players who have historically divided the country along ethnic lines.
Analysis of the 2019 census data produced by the Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (KNBS) shows that most of them will have reached voting age by 2027.
Four in five Gen Z, totalling over 14 million people, will be eligible to vote, which is a 79.4 per cent increase on the number of this cohort who were old enough to register as voters in 2022, when President William Ruto was elected on a platform of youth economic empowerment.
Kenyans aged 18 to 34 will number 17.8 million, reflecting the predominant role they will play in determining the country’s political future from 2027 onwards.
In 2022, President Ruto won with 7,176,141 votes, beating Mr Raila Odinga’s 6,942,930 votes.
Of the 22.1 million registered voters in that election, only 14.3 million voted.
Protesters march along the Moi Avenue in Mombasa on June 25, 2025.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation Media Group
A report by the IEBC showed that youth turnout in 2022 was remarkably low. The same report showed that 8,811,691 of the registered voters were aged between 18 and 34, constituting 40 per cent of the total number of voters ahead of the 2022 elections. This implied that their numbers alone were enough to significantly influence the outcome.
The study by OdipoDev and Tribeless Youth shows a clear evolution in the factors fuelling voter apathy among young Kenyans, revealing how the political shocks of 2024 have reshaped their motivations. Prior to 2025, Gen Z disengagement was largely driven by a sense of futility, characterised by widespread doubt in the credibility of elections, frustration with leaders who ‘do not deliver’, and the perception that voting had minimal impact on governance reforms.
However, this year, the reasons for opting out have become more complex. While mistrust in the electoral system remained prevalent, new factors had emerged, including disillusionment with broken campaign promises, frustration with opaque institutions and the perception that political choices were often between ‘the same faces in different colours’.
The report captures this transition as a shift from passive resignation to a more discerning scepticism — a recognition that change is needed, yet a lingering doubt over whether the electoral system can deliver it.
The study suggests that 2027 could see the highest turnout of young voters since 2013, provided registration improves.
The research also reveals dramatic changes in how young Kenyans gather political information. Social media remains dominant, but AI tools are emerging as a major player. According to the study, 37 per cent of Kenyans aged 18 to 19 have used AI to research candidates for upcoming by-elections — an early indicator of how technology may reshape political literacy and decision-making. Conversations within ‘trusted social circles’, especially with peers, continue to shape perceptions, reflecting a generation that views political decisions as collective and communal rather than individual.
But even with new channels of information, new tools, and new political motivations, the fundamental barrier remains bureaucratic and psychological: getting Gen Z into the voter registry.
“They believe they have a strong sense of responsibility to do so as citizens. They feel they need to be involved in change but there is also a question on the type of candidates they want who are worth their vote,” Ms Jerotich said.
The study draws on 531 respondents reached through field-based surveys and street intercepts, offering a grounded look at youth political sentiment in real time.
Researchers focused on Kenyans aged 18 to 29, with those between 18 and 24 making up 54 per cent of the sample and 25- to 29-year-olds accounting for 46 per cent. The gender balance skewed slightly, with male at 55 per cent, but reflected typical turnout patterns in youth political research. The survey was conducted in counties that are preparing for the November 27 by-elections – Baringo, Bungoma, Elgeyo Marakwet, Embu, Garissa, Homa Bay, Kajiado, Kakamega, Kiambu, Kilifi, Machakos, Nairobi, Nandi, Narok, Nyamira, Siaya, Tana River, Turkana and Uasin Gishu — regions where political activity was already intensifying.
Concerns around voter registration are unfolding against a backdrop of mounting political pressure. According to IEBC data, 46 per cent of Kenya’s population is aged between 0–17 years, and 54 per cent of those eligible to vote.
IEBC, through its CEO Marjan Hussein Marjan, notes that of the 54 per cent of the population, 31 per cent represent the youth who are not willing to register, which is a major concern. Mr Marjan called for a joint effort by parents, influencers and institutions to encourage youth participation.
"If there is no investor confidence, no one will invest in the country. The environment will not be good for the government to implement its programmes,” he said, noting that political stability is central to Vision 2030.
The united opposition, on Wednesday, accused IEBC of mishandling the early phases of the by-elections, warning the electoral commission “has not done enough to engage the public or provide the civic education necessary for a smooth and inclusive voter registration process.”
Protesters picket along Kimathi Street in Nairobi on June 25th 2025 during the commemoration of the 2024 Gen-Z protests.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
In a sharply worded statement read by Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka, opposition leaders cited a series of systemic failures, from the abrupt rollout of mandatory iris-scanning technology without public explanation to the limited registration hours that shut out workers, students, and young people.
They questioned the creation of what they described as a two-tier register, with some voters captured through iris data. This, they said, raised “real questions about fairness and consistency.”
The coalition further demanded transparency on the deployment of registration kits, stricter safeguards against misuse, adherence to the law on voter transfers, and publication of the staff overseeing registration.
“Kenyans deserve a registration exercise that is fair, inclusive, and above board,” the statement said, arguing without these measures, public confidence in the process will continue to get eroded.
Mr Marjan has, however, insisted that IEBC has robust systems to protect voter data, enhance transparency and detect fraud.
“The beginning of credible elections depends on clean and credible data. Technology helps deter double registration, manage risks, enhance logistics and ensure transparency in results transmission,” he said, noting every Kenyan has unique biometrics, making it impossible to vote twice or impersonate a voter.
“Last time, we transmitted results as required by law. At one point, 380 million people across platforms were viewing the results. Technology also helps us provide an audit trail,” he added.
