At the height of the 2024 Gen-Z demonstrations, a political reawakening took shape as many young people expressed a desire for deep involvement in politics and national leadership.
Since then, some of the movement’s frontline voices have joined political parties in various roles, while others have taken the step of pursuing elective office.
For many of those who contested in the November 27 by-elections, however, the experience was a brutal encounter with Kenya’s realities – where poverty buys votes, elders shape destinies, passion is dismissed as naïvety, and clean politics stands no chance without money.
What began as youthful optimism quickly turned into a sobering lesson for Gen-Z hopefuls eyeing 2027 – before you dream of change, understand the ground first.
In Kasipul constituency, one of the most fiercely contested, 26-year-old software developer Jeazmin Aoko garnered only 26 votes.
Jeazmin Aoko who came ninth in Kasipul parliamentary by-elections.
Photo credit: Pool
She beat one candidate, who had 17. Running as an independent and the only female candidate, Ms Aoko said after the announcement of the results that she would not quit.
“I will still be in the race in 2027. This is not the end of my political career. It was difficult for me to go against people being sponsored by big and established political parties,” she said, describing her first campaign as a classroom.
According to Ms Aoko, competing against candidates running on the tickets of major parties came with challenges. Convincing voters to trust a young woman, she said, was even harder.
“People questioned my age and if I had the capacity to lead,” Ms Aoko said.
She often used boda bodas or walked during the campaigns. Ironically, she said, that helped her understand that roads and bridges in Kasipul are in dire need of repair.
Many a time, she found homes deserted as owners had trooped to meetings where handouts were given.
“Sometimes, I only found children at home because their parents had gone to bigger rallies,” she said, adding her plans included youth and women's economic empowerment.
In Mbeere North, 30-year-old Lawrence Ireri, who contested on a Safina Party ticket, garnered 100 votes. He says his major undoing was money.
“I am popular, but money influenced voting. I didn’t have the money to dish out like my competitors. To win an election, you must be a person of means, or at least that’s what I have learnt,” he said.
Mr Ireri, who spent Sh20,000 in his entire campaign, said poverty in the constituency made voters choose whoever had the most cash. Using a bicycle and a loudspeaker, he moved from door to door, urging residents to give him a chance.
His other challenge was running on a party with little local influence. He is shopping for a stronger party in 2027.
In Magarini, 25-year-old Amos Katana, a clinical medicine graduate and techpreneur, was up against veteran candidates with money and established networks.
Magarini by-election candidate Amos Katana
Photo credit: Pool
Despite support from youth – including fellow Gen-Z hopeful for Kilifi Woman Representative Fatuma Ramadhan – he emerged fourth out of 10 candidates with 192 votes.
“Once you auction democracy to the highest bidder, it becomes difficult for citizens to be heard or get development. My mission is to bring change, restore hope and champion development that truly reaches the people,” he said.
“Leadership is about solutions, not politics, and I am here to represent a new generation of leaders committed to accountability, innovation and community-driven progress.”
“It is not right when some candidates send their people to camp in strategic places to influence voters with money,” he said.
“This is what affects public services. Once you make the decision to auction democracy to the highest bidder, it becomes difficult for the citizen’s voice to be heard. That in turn means it will be difficult for such an area to develop.”
Zena Haluwa, a candidate in Chewani.
Photo credit: Stephen Oduor | Nation Media Group
In Chewani ward, two of the youngest candidates – 26-year-old Pascal Wayu and 24-year-old Zena Haluwa – got into the contest full of passion and ideas but left with painful lessons on the realities of politics in Tana River County.
Pascal Wayu, a candidate in Chewani.
Photo credit: Stephen Oduor | Nation Media Group
For Mr Wayu, who ran on an Agano Party ticket, voters were brutally honest.
“People told me plainly, ‘If you don’t give us something, we can’t waste our time with you.’ To the residents, a political rally is a disruption of their hustle,” he said.
Ms Haluwa’s experience was even tougher. Running on a Democratic Party ticket, she encountered ageism, sexism and hostility, much of it from women.
“Some elderly women went to the extent of calling me a prostitute. They told me to first get a husband and children before asking for votes. To these people, leadership is for older, married women,” she said.
“Most young men in Chewani did not see my agenda. They only saw my body,” she said.
While male candidates accessed influential spaces such as the Gasa Council of Elders, Ms Haluwa was locked out and received no support from women groups.
She received 48 votes, which she considers a foundation.
“Forty-eight people believed in me on November 27. If 48 can become 480 in 2027, then 480 can become victory,” she said.
Young candidates faced discrimination, with older voters dismissing them as inexperienced.
They all agree that the by-elections were defined by poverty-driven vote buying, but remain determined to return in 2027 – more seasoned, wiser and far prepared.
Reporting by George Odiwuor, George Munene, Maureen Ongala and Stephen Oduor
