Where are the youth in Kenya’s national power play?

Kenya finds itself in the middle of a political realignment of monumental proportions. From a government that claims to be “broad-based” to an opposition that is reassembling only in preparation for 2027, one fundamental question remains unanswered: Where are the youth in this national power play?

This is not just an abstract query or a rhetorical flourish. It is a cry from the streets, a voice reverberating from the urban sprawls of Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu, Eldoret, and Kakamega — where the young men and women popularly referred to as Gen Z took to the streets in 2024.

In those streets, brave youth stood tall and fearless, demanding accountability, justice, and a meaningful place in the country’s future. They came out to protest, not just for jobs, but for the very right to be included in the political conversation. They demanded the cessation of the recycling of old, tested, and often failed leaders. And they did so peacefully. They raised their voices for change, for economic justice, and for the end of exclusion.

The result? Some were abducted. Some were injured. And tragically, some even lost their lives for daring to dream of a better, more inclusive Kenya. Yet, when we look at the political stage today, it is almost as if those brave young souls never existed. The demands of these youth have vanished from the conversation, replaced with more of the same.

In 2025, Kenya’s power games continue, but this time, they are louder and even more exclusionary. Youth are still credited with being the engine behind the latest campaigns and digital revolutions. They fuel social media movements and digitized protests, yet remain perpetually sidelined when it comes to boardrooms, cabinet appointments, and political power. Those who risked their lives to protest, to demand change in 2024, are now nothing more than distant memories in a political landscape that has moved on, as if nothing happened.

The government, which prides itself in being “broad-based,” seems to be more interested in rewarding the familiar faces that have sat at the table for years, rather than fostering new, young talent with fresh ideas and vision. The opposition, while proclaiming itself to be the alternative to the status quo, is doing little more than reshuffling the same tired politicians who have failed the nation time and time again. So the question arises again: What changed? After all the efforts, what really changed?

Why is no one talking about the youth anymore?

For the opposition reassembling, nobody utters anything related. Is the goal simply to remove President Ruto from power? If that is the only goal, it begs the question: Who will replace him? Could it be that Ruto, in fact, is a mere frying pan, and the opposition only wants to throw us into the fire of more of the same recycled leaders? Are we really addressing the needs of Kenya’s young population, or are we simply swapping one old guard for another? Can you all exceed the stage at once.

It is a bitter irony. The very youth who filled the streets chanting "We are not our ancestors," demanding generational change and political reform, now find themselves treated as though they are relics of the past. Their calls for political reform, the inclusion of youth in decision-making, and a meaningful generational transition are met with silence — even as the same political class promises them vague “future opportunities” that never seem to materialize.

But let me be clear: The future is now.

The youth of Kenya are not looking for tomorrow’s promises. They are looking for today’s action. Kenya’s progress is dependent on the actual inclusion of youth, not token representation. These young people understand the dynamics of the digital economy, climate justice, innovation, creative industries, and the social realities of a rapidly changing world. They are shaping the future of Kenya already — they are the ones driving Kenya’s technological revolution, the creative economy, and the innovations that will determine our future. And yet, they remain left out of the conversation when it comes to governance.

Kenya’s leadership needs to recognize that youth inclusion is not just a matter of ticking a box or making them the face of a campaign poster. Youth must be at the decision-making table, not just as an afterthought or a temporary appendage. The youth must play central roles in governance and policy-making, not merely act as foot soldiers for older political elites.

This is not just about giving young people a chance to make a name for themselves; this is about survival. Kenya cannot afford to continue recycling the same leaders, the same policies, and the same failures. If the nation is to thrive, we must allow fresh, vibrant ideas to take root. We need leaders who understand the digital age, who understand the climate crisis, who understand the rapidly changing global economy. This cannot be achieved by simply keeping the status quo intact and relying on political actors who have shown time and again that they lack the vision and will to create meaningful change.

The question we must ask ourselves is uncomfortable but necessary:

Is Kenya ready to be led by its youth? Or will we continue recycling the past at the expense of both the present and the future?

This is a pivotal moment in Kenya’s political journey. The youth have shown that they are ready to lead. They have demonstrated courage, resilience, and vision. What they need now is not patronizing rhetoric, but real opportunities. They need the keys to power, and they need a seat at the table and probably, to welcome others on the very table. The future belongs to the young people — it is high time we allow them to claim it.

Kenya’s survival and prosperity depend on our youth. The question is, are we ready to let them lead?