Comedian YY questions Kenyans travelling upcountry to vote during elections
By Trizer Lijondo, September 17, 2026YY the Comedian has questioned the practice of Kenyans travelling to their ancestral counties during election periods to cast ballots, arguing that the arrangement can make it difficult for voters to hold elected leaders accountable.
In a voice note shared on Thursday, September 17, 2026, YY said between three and four million Kenyans travel during every election period to vote, despite many of them living and working away from the constituencies where they are registered.
Questioning voter accountability
YY used Nairobi residents as an example, questioning the logic of travelling to counties such as Kakamega, Bungoma and Nyeri to elect Members of Parliament who represent constituencies where the voters no longer live.
He cited a voter who travels from Nairobi to vote for an MP in an area such as Mias or Mumias and Salasia, before returning to live in Embakasi East, where Babu Owino would be their MP.
According to YY, such a voter may not feel the same need to hold Babu Owino accountable because they did not vote for him. At the same time, the MP they actually voted for is far away, making it difficult for them to follow up on what the leader is doing.
“The person that at least owes you something, the fact that you voted for them, is so far away, you cannot even track whatever they are doing,” YY said.
Are Kenyans voting for parties?
YY further argued that the issue goes beyond where people cast their ballots, suggesting that Kenyans sometimes vote based on political parties rather than individual candidates.
“The problem with this kind of voting is that we do not vote people. We vote parties,” he said.
He described how some voters may return to their villages and simply ask their parents or relatives who is contesting, before accepting their preferred candidate without necessarily examining the individual’s record.
“You go to the village and ask your mom, your dad, whoever, ‘Eh, huku nani anataba?’ Oh, okay, huyo, sawa,” YY said.
YY ended by challenging Kenyans to consider whether they are ready to have a wider conversation about voting and accountability.
“But are we ready for this conversation? No, because you’re right all the time. People can only disagree with you if they are paid,” he said.