As Kenya moves closer to the 2027 General Election, the youth vote is expected to be one of the most important factors in the presidential contest.

Young people make up a significant proportion of Kenya’s population and registered voters. According to the IEBC, voters aged 18 to 34 accounted for approximately 40 per cent of registered voters in the 2022 General Election.

This gives young Kenyans enormous potential influence at the ballot box.


Issues that matter to young voters

For many young people, the 2027 election will be influenced by issues such as unemployment, the cost of living, taxation, education, corruption and access to economic opportunities.

The government has introduced various programmes aimed at addressing youth unemployment and expanding economic opportunities. However, young voters will ultimately judge these initiatives based on their personal experiences.

A young graduate struggling to find work may view the economy differently from a young entrepreneur or an employed professional.


Political participation

The challenge is whether young people will register and turn out to vote.

The IEBC has been encouraging eligible young Kenyans to register ahead of the 2027 elections. The commission has also expressed concern in the past about low youth voter registration.

Social media has also changed how young Kenyans engage with politics. Many now follow political debates online and have become more vocal about accountability and governance.

However, online political activity does not always translate into voting.


No candidate can take the youth vote for granted

Young Kenyans are not a single political bloc. Their political choices are influenced by their region, economic circumstances, education and personal experiences.

This means political parties cannot simply assume that young people will support them because of traditional political loyalties.

The candidate who presents a convincing plan on employment, economic opportunities and good governance could have an advantage.


Conclusion

The 2027 election could be significantly influenced by Kenya’s young voters.

If millions of young Kenyans register and turn out in large numbers, they could play a decisive role in determining the next president.

The youth may not vote as one united bloc, but their numbers make them too important for any political candidate to ignore.

In 2027, the question may not only be who wins the youth vote—but whether the youth will turn their political influence into votes.