Saturday, September
6, 2025 - Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana has cautioned the
Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) against sidelining young
voters as Kenya gears up for the 2027 General Elections.
In a statement posted on his X account, Kibwana emphasized
that denying Gen Z the opportunity to participate in shaping the country’s
leadership would be a grave mistake.
He urged the Registrar of Persons to expedite the issuance
of national identification cards, calling it the first major hurdle preventing
millions of youths from registering as voters.
“It will be a socio-political crime for any eligible Gen Z
not to register and vote in 2027,” Kibwana stated.
“The Articles 1 and 37 mother of all protests should be at
the 55,393 or so polling stations.”
Reflecting on the 2022 elections, Kibwana noted that between
three and four million youth above 18 were unable to vote due to lack of IDs or
voter registration.
He projected that by 2027, an additional four million Gen Z
voters will become eligible, significantly increasing demand for registration
services.
Kibwana criticized IEBC’s current projection of 5.7 million
new voters, arguing that the figure falls short.
He urged the commission to prepare for between seven and
eight million new registrations to avoid suppressing the youth vote.
He described Gen Z as a transformative force in Kenya’s political future and called for inclusive electoral planning to ensure their voices are heard.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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