Charles Owino urges Gen Zs to seek change through the ballot, not demos

Mabonga Makhanu 23rd July, 2025 09:27 AM

Former police spokesman Charles Owino has called on the youth to pursue change through the ballot box rather than through violent protests.

Owino’s comments come in the wake of recent demonstrations led by Gen Z demanding accountability from the government.

Speaking during an interview on a local television station on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, Owino emphasised the need for civic education at all levels, from the family unit to national platforms aimed at empowering young people to make informed decisions during elections.

He stressed that if the youth are dissatisfied with how the country is being governed, the solution lies in using their vote wisely to elect competent leaders rather than resorting to unrest in the streets.

Also watch: Charles Owino calls for national discipline to avoid Nepal’s incident

“If the youth are dissatisfied with how the government is running its affairs, we need to educate them to use their vote wisely and choose the right candidates rather than resorting to violent demonstrations.

“Two wrongs don’t make a right. We should invest money in educating the youth. A lot of education needs to be carried out, starting from our families to the national level; we should have a lot of education,” Owino stated.

He further noted that substantial investment should be made in youth education to ensure that the younger generation understands the power of democratic processes.

According to him, this is the only way to foster long-term change and stability, rather than creating a cycle of violence and retaliation.

Conduct during demos

On the issue of youth conduct during the demonstrations, Owino expressed concern that discussions have been heavily focused on fatalities and clashes, while little attention is being paid to the behavioural expectations of the protestors.

Also watch: Charles Owino urges Kenyans to accept reality of police firearm use

He challenged institutions such as the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) to take an active role in sensitising the youth on peaceful means of protest and discouraging the destruction of property.

“Even in this discussion, we are only talking about deaths. Can we discuss parameters? It should work for KNCHR. I want to see them getting out and educating the youth and asking them, ‘Please don’t be violent; don’t burn properties so that we have that kind of education. Let’s not see one side where we weaponise the youths’,” he added.