Church Sounds Alarm Over Low Youth Voter Turnout, Urges Gen Z to Register Ahead of 2027 Polls

The Church has stepped into the ongoing voter registration drive led by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), urging young people to turn out in large numbers and enlist ahead of next year’s General Election.

Clerics led by the Federation of Evangelical and Indigenous Christian Churches of Kenya (FEICCK) Secretary General, Bishop David Thagana, called on eligible youth to take an active role in the democratic process by acquiring national identity cards and registering as voters.

Speaking on Sunday at Glory Outreach Assembly Church in Kahawa Wendani, Ruiru Constituency during a fundraiser for the church’s proposed Sh. 117 million headquarters, Bishop Thagana emphasised that young people hold the key to shaping the country’s future leadership.

“We are also urging our youths, including Form Four leavers, to ensure that they collect their Identity Cards so that they can register as voters. It’s high time the young people fully participate in the coming elections so that they can bring in leaders who have their interests and those of the country at heart,” he said.

He further urged the IEBC to address operational challenges affecting the registration process.

“We are calling on IEBC to address all bottlenecks facing the current voter registration process, including technical hitches and malfunctioning devices, so that all eligible persons, including Gen Zs, can enlist,” Bishop Thagana added.

His remarks come amid concerns raised by the electoral commission over low youth turnout in the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise. According to IEBC data, voters aged above 35 account for about two-thirds of new registrations since the exercise began on September 29 last year, highlighting a worrying gap in youth participation.

The trend indicates that older voters are driving the registration momentum, accounting for approximately 67.35 percent, compared to just 32 percent among younger voters, raising questions about the level of engagement among first-time voters.

Bishop Deborah Phyllis Wangeci echoed the call, stressing that the youth vote will be decisive in determining the outcome of the next election.

“Enlisting as voters and turning up on election day is the only democratic way to shape the country’s leadership. I call upon all youths, especially Gen Zs, to register and be ready to vote for leaders aligned with their vision and interests,” she said.

She also urged political leaders to promote peace as the country gradually enters the electioneering period, warning that stability remains critical for social and economic progress.

Meanwhile, youth leaders have also weighed in, calling for improvements in the voter registration process. George Chiira, a youth leader in Kahawa Wendani, cited delays and inefficiencies in several IEBC offices, including those in Ruiru, Juja and Thika.

“The process has been affected by staff shortages and faulty registration kits, which have caused unnecessary delays. The government must ensure the exercise is smooth and accessible to all,” he said.

Chiira, however, noted a growing wave of political awareness among young people, driven by the popular ‘Niko Kadi’ movement, where youth document their voter registration journey online.

“On TikTok, X, Instagram, in matatus, university campuses and even in everyday conversations, the ‘Niko Kadi’ phrase is everywhere. It’s evident that the youth vote will tilt next year’s election outcome. Gen Zs are determined to shape the country’s leadership and future at the ballot,” he said.

As the registration exercise continues, both religious leaders and youth representatives are now rallying young Kenyans to seize the moment and actively participate in the democratic process.