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2.9M youth registered to vote: Ademba Allans urges more young people to enter politics
13th September, 2026 09:25 AM
Kenyan youth leader and founder of the TUKO KADI movement Ademba Allans has challenged young people to move beyond voter registration and take a more active role in politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a post shared on his Instagram page on Saturday, September 12, 2026, Allans reflected on the registration of 2.9 million young voters and questioned what comes next for a generation that has often been vocal about political and social issues.
“2.9 million people registered to vote then what?” he asked.
From voter registration to representation
Allans said the registration of millions of young people should lead to conversations about who will represent them and whether more young people are prepared to seek political office.
He questioned why young people continue to form a large part of the voting population yet remain underrepresented on the ballot.
“Who are we voting for? Who will be on the ballot? Why are young people not on the ballot? Why can’t we lead?” he said.
The questions formed part of the discussions during the TUKO KADI Aspirants Barazas, which brought together young people seeking elective positions under different political parties.
Young aspirants discuss political challenges
The forums focused on some of the challenges young people face when trying to enter politics, including access to finances, political connections and party nominations.
Participants also discussed electoral processes, political mobilisation, ethical leadership and possible electoral reforms, with contributions from Prof Timothy Kiruhi, Prof Kivutha Kibwana, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), Nerima Wako and the Elections Observation Group (ELOG), among others.
The discussions also looked at the risks young people can face in politics, including political violence, intimidation and exploitation.
Young women were noted to face additional challenges, while negative perceptions about young leaders can also make it harder for them to gain support.
Social media following is not enough
One of the key lessons from the discussions was that having a large following on social media does not automatically translate into votes during an election.
Participants noted that digital platforms can help young candidates reach voters, but online popularity needs to be supported by direct engagement with communities.
Grassroots networks, interaction with voters and understanding the issues affecting different communities were identified as important parts of building political support.
Allans said the responsibility of increasing youth participation in politics cannot be left to one person or organisation.
“But this cannot be the work of one person or one organisation. Voters, political parties, civil society, institutions and young people all have a role to play,” he said.
TUKO KADI to expand aspirants’ forums
The TUKO KADI movement plans to take the Aspirants Barazas to more counties as it continues engaging young people interested in elective politics.
The forums seek to help aspiring leaders understand the realities of seeking office, from party nominations and electoral rules to mobilisation and leadership.
For Allans, registering to vote is only the first step. The bigger question is whether young people will use their growing presence in the electorate to seek representation and take part in decision-making.
“Registration is the beginning. Representation is the goal,” he said.
The message from the forums was clear: youth mobilisation should not end at registering voters. It should also create room for young people to participate meaningfully in politics, both as voters and as candidates.
