Komboa: Kalonzo appeals to Gen Z to register to vote amid low turnout concerns
By Ascah Mwango, January 19, 2026Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has called on Kenya’s Gen Z population to move beyond social media activism and register as voters ahead of the 2027 general elections.
In a statement posted on his X account on Monday, January 19, 2026, Kalonzo emphasised that while social media engagement and online discussions are important, real change comes through exercising one’s right to vote.
He encouraged the youth to take the necessary steps to register, highlighting that their future in shaping the country’s political landscape begins at the ballot box.
“Unaweza shout online siku nzima, lakini system huskia kura pekee. Gen Z, register as a voter. Future yako inaanza hapo. Register to vote and Komboa,” the former Vice President stated.
His appeal comes as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) continues its Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise, which began in late September 2025 and will run into 2026 in preparation for the 2027 polls.
Recent reports show that turnout in the ongoing registration has been lower than expected. By early October 2025, only around 20,754 new voters had been captured nationwide, far below the IEBC’s target of registering millions of new voters, most of whom are young people.
In some counties like Nyamira, the number of new registrations was extremely low, with single-digit figures recorded in the first weeks of the exercise.
IEBC officials have acknowledged the slow uptake and called for increased civic education and easier access to registration points. Plans are also underway to introduce a mobile pre-registration system allowing Kenyans to start the process via their phones.
The commission has set ambitious targets to add millions of new voters to the electoral roll ahead of the 2027 elections, emphasising that a credible and up-to-date voter register is crucial for free and fair polls.