By M, KNA
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) on Thursday held a youth engagement forum in Kirinyaga County aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Commission and young voters.
Speaking during the session, Commissioner Dr Alutalala Mukhwana, who chairs the Committee on Voter Education, Partnerships, Communication and Stakeholder Engagement, emphasized that young people are key stakeholders in Kenya’s electoral process.
Dr Mukhwana noted that the Commission had convened the forum primarily to listen to the concerns, views and expectations of the youth regarding IEBC’s mandate and operations.
“Youth are important stakeholders in the electoral process. We are here to listen to what you want IEBC to do,” he said.
He encouraged participants to freely raise questions and proposals, assuring them that their feedback would inform the Commission’s strategies moving forward.
“I will be here with my pen. Ask all the questions, when we leave here you will be teachers at other times,” Dr Mukhwana added, underscoring the Commission’s commitment to continuous civic engagement and voter education.
Moses Ledama Sunkuli, the Acting Chief Executive Officer and Commission Secretary of the IEBC, revealed that the Commission is targeting to register 6.3 million young Kenyans as voters by 2027.
He noted that data from the issuance of new national Identity Cards shows that approximately similar numbers of eligible youths exist. However, so far, the Commission has managed to register only about 200,000 new voters.
Sunkuli urged young people to apply for the interim jobs advertised by the Commission, saying their involvement would support the ongoing Continuous Voter Registration exercise.
He also called on the youth to act as ambassadors of credible elections and peace, emphasizing their critical role in shaping public perception.
“You are the people who are on the ground, and you hear what is going on all the time, and you can help us change the narrative that IEBC is a commission that belongs to you,” he said.
Commissioner Ann Nderitu, who is in charge of election operations, acknowledged the people of Kirinyaga for being hardworking and outspoken, particularly on matters of politics, elections, and governance.
She noted that the engagement mainly focused on elections and issues affecting young people, especially their participation in governance, singling out voter registration as a key concern. She urged the youth to take an active role in both registering as voters and mobilizing their peers.
“And we really would want to see the participation of the young people in voter registration either coming out to register or mobilizing others. We really have to know where we stand as far as governance of this country is concerned, and you cannot say that you are participating in governance if you are not a registered voter. The first step is to get registered as a voter.”
Nderitu further encouraged young people to respect the older generation, noting that despite generational differences, older people have valuable experiences and lessons to share.
“But we know what we went through. The dispensation may be different. The times, the opportunities and the challenges may be different because every generation fights its own battle.”
She emphasized that the period between the ages of 18 and 35 is critical in shaping one’s future. How young people utilize those 17 years, she said, determines not only their personal and professional growth but also the direction of the country. She cautioned that many waste a significant portion of these formative years, which are crucial for building a strong foundation.
“After 30 years, you are actually that background your children will start complaining about, saying, ‘I come from a poor background.’ So you better do something so that you don’t repeat the narrative of where you come from or what was affecting you when you were younger.”
Kirinyaga County Commissioner, Hussein Allasow, thanked IEBC for bringing such an important forum ahead of voter registration and general election. In terms of security, Allasow warned the youths against being misused by politicians to cause chaos.
