Some youth leaders, educators, legal experts, religious leaders and civil society actors have launched an initiative to promote peaceful, informed and meaningful participation of young people as the country gears up for the 2027 General Election.
The initiative, dubbed ‘Kenya Youth Unity in Diversity,’ is being implemented under World Radiance International, a youth-focused organisation founded in 2007 to promote good governance, ethics and sustainable livelihoods.
Speaking during a sensitization forum held in Ukunda, Kwale County, the programme’s county director Alfred Karani said the initiative was informed by concerns that young people are frequently exploited by political actors and abandoned once elections lapse.
Karani noted that many youths are mobilised for unlawful activities during elections yet remain vulnerable to violence and manipulation.
“Youth participation in governance goes beyond demonstrations. It includes informed voting and responsible engagement, which many young people neglect. Our goal is to educate youths on their rights and promote peaceful participation to prevent bloodshed during the 2027 General Election,” he said.
Karani added that the programme seeks to unite young people, encourage voter registration and promote lawful expression of views, noting that youths have significant numbers but low voter turnout.
World Radiance International teacher-trainer Fatuma Amir urged young people to register as voters and engage leaders with purpose and integrity.
“Youths come from diverse backgrounds. They must make informed decisions and express their demands peacefully to be heard and given space in governance,” Amir said.
She revealed that the programme will collaborate with the State Department for Youth, particularly the Digital Employment Unit, to equip youths with online job skills in a bid to address unemployment.
National chairperson of Kenya Youth Unity in Diversity, Robert Kinyua, a lawyer, said the programme aims to transform how young people perceive governance by equipping them with knowledge on law-making and electoral processes.
“When young people understand how a Bill becomes law, they realise governance is not distant but accessible. A generation that votes with knowledge and organizes with purpose cannot be ignored,” Kinyua said.
He added that the initiative trains youths on lawful advocacy to address challenges such as unemployment, corruption, mental health stigma and inequality.
Founder and Chief Executive Officer of World Radiance International, Peris Nyambura, described the programme as a youth-owned movement designed to provide safe spaces for dialogue and critical thinking.
She called on parents, leaders and institutions to listen to young people, noting that the youth form over 60 percent of Kenya’s population.
“We do not want to see bloodshed in 2027. Young people are asking for dialogue, support and peace, and it is our responsibility to listen and guide them,” Nyambura said.
Religious leaders also pledged support for the initiative, with Msambweni Sub-County Religious Leaders Chairperson Ramadhan Mwachei saying faith leaders have a duty to guide youths towards peaceful nation-building.
Similarly, Pastor Esther Kamau of FPFK Church urged churches across the country to support youths and encourage them to express their concerns through constitutional channels.
As the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election, the Kenya Youth Unity in Diversity programme seeks to channel youthful energy into responsible civic engagement while promoting unity, diversity and peace.
By Chari Suche
