A recent discussion on Political Ringside brought the challenges facing young people in Kenyan politics into sharp focus.
During the conversation, youth leader Gilbert Nalwa spoke with host Fridah Mong’are about why many young Kenyans still struggle to gain real influence in decision making despite being the largest group in the country. The discussion made it clear that while youth are many, political power often remains in the hands of older leaders and a small group of elites.
Kenya’s population is largely made up of young people, yet their voice in leadership spaces remains limited. According to Nalwa, many youth are eager to take part in governance but face structural barriers that prevent them from doing so. One of the biggest examples is the National Youth Council, which was created to represent young people and push for their interests. Despite its importance, elections for the council’s leadership have not taken place for more than twelve years.
Recently, the Cabinet approved about 165 million shillings for the council, but the money has reportedly remained unused with little public information about how it is managed.
Nalwa said this situation leaves young people without proper representation or oversight. Without elected leaders at the council, programs meant to help the youth may lack proper monitoring. He pointed to the Hustler Fund as one example where only a small number of young people benefit in many areas, making it difficult to measure its full impact.
Nalwa, who plans to run for chairperson of the council, believes the body should remain independent rather than operate like a normal government department.
According to him, a lack of political goodwill has slowed down efforts to hold elections for the council. After the 2024 Gen Z Protests in Kenya, government leaders promised to act quickly on reforms affecting young people. There were discussions and public commitments to strengthen youth institutions, but many of those promises have not yet been fulfilled.
The discussion also looked at the role of young people inside political parties. Nalwa explained that even when youth join parties, they often receive small roles without real authority.
He serves as the national youth leader for the Ecological Party of Kenya, commonly known as EPA. In his view, some political parties are structured mainly to support the ambitions of certain politicians rather than encourage broader participation.
Starting a new political party is also difficult because of strict legal requirements. As a result, many young people must work within existing parties and try to push for reforms from inside. Nalwa believes dialogue between older leaders and the younger generation is important so that political space can gradually open up.
Another challenge discussed was the rise of propaganda and misinformation in politics. Nalwa argued that political messaging often focuses more on emotional narratives than real policies.
Social media platforms such as X, Facebook, and TikTok have become powerful tools for spreading ideas. They allow young people to speak out and organize. However, online activity does not always translate into voting.
During the 2022 Kenyan General Election, many young registered voters did not show up at polling stations. Nalwa said that while social media can help mobilize people, real change still depends on participation in elections and community organizing.
The conversation also touched on governance at the county level.
Devolution was introduced after the 2010 Kenyan Constitutional Referendum with the aim of bringing services closer to the people. However, Nalwa argued that in some cases corruption and misuse of resources have slowed progress. He said young people must continue demanding accountability from leaders at both national and county levels.
Ethnic politics was another issue raised in the discussion. According to Nalwa, leaders sometimes use ethnic messaging to maintain political support. Youth movements in recent years, including those led by Gen Z activists, have tried to move away from these divisions and focus on shared national concerns such as jobs and good governance.
Looking ahead to the 2027 Kenyan General Election, Nalwa urged young people to stay engaged in the political process. He encouraged them to register as voters, join platforms that advocate for youth issues, and continue pushing for representation in decision-making spaces.
