KISUMU,1st July 2026 -A storm is brewing in the lakeside city as youth leaders from across the region have issued a firm ultimatum to the government over the conduct of the much-anticipated National Youth Council (NYC) elections, slated for this Sunday.
Speaking to the media in Kisumu on Wednesday, the youth accused the State Department for Youth Affairs and the Council’s leadership of sidelining them in a process meant to be their own.
With barely just days to the elections scheduled for July 5, the young leaders lamented a lack of transparency, the absence of voter registers and what they termed as “political interference.”
“We have seen a Gazette notice stating that the National Youth Council elections will be held on the 5th, that is on Sunday. Up to now, we have not received a list of aspirants who are contesting,bneither have we received a verified voters’ register,” said Austin Ogalo, Chairperson of the Kisumu Youth Assembly.
Ogalo warned that the youth are tired of being treated as an afterthought. He accused the administration of attempting to impose “briefcase” leaders who are either over-age or improperly vetted to manipulate the elections.
“We don’t want a briefcase NYC as it has been since 2013 when the last elections were held,” he stated, referring to the decade long gap in legitimate youth representation.
While assuring the public that their protests would remain peaceful, the leaders issued a stern warning that come Friday they will mobilize youths from Migori, Homabay, Kisumu and across the country in compelling the Government to comply with the law.
The grievance by the youth is rooted in legal provisions. According to the National Youth Council Elections Regulations 2021, a register of candidates and voters must be made available to the public seven days before the election. As of Wednesday, this had not been done.
“The questions we are asking is that the National Youth Council elections guidelines 2021 provides that seven days to the elections, we should have a register of all the candidates, a register of voters being released to the public. That has not been done up to now,” stated Juma Graham, a student leader from Maseno University.
Graham also expressed alarm over the safety of youth activists, referencing recent incidents in Nairobi where young people have either been abducted or killed, demanding that the government must listen to the challenges facing the youth.
Beyond the logistical failures, the leaders issued a resounding rejection of political interference. They claimed that a meeting was held last Friday with a select group of “purported aspirants” and government agencies, aimed at pre-determining the outcome of the polls.
“We want to tell our politicians, stay out of this thing, let the youth rally out their voice, let them stand up for themselves because we are not leaders of tomorrow, we are the leaders of today,” said Owira Mogo, a youth representative from Kisumu County.
He emphasized that the NYC is a constitutional body meant to represent the youth, not a playground for political dynasties who are only interested in exploiting young people particularly during electioneering period.
The youth leaders are not necessarily demanding that the elections be scrapped; rather, they are demanding a credible exercise. They insist that even if the polls must be postponed, the integrity of the process must be guaranteed.
As the Friday deadline looms, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and the National Youth Council face increasing pressure to address the concerns of the young people, with the demonstrators making it clear that if the government fails to provide the necessary clarity, then the elections won’t proceed.
