Empowering Kenyan Youth in Democracy
Transforming voter apathy into active civic participation through education, engagement, and economic empowerment.
The Challenge: Rising Voter Apathy
Kenya is facing a democratic crisis with declining voter participation threatening the legitimacy of electoral outcomes.
In the 2022 General Election, Kenya recorded one of the sharpest drops in voter participation in recent history. Approximately 7.8 million registered voters, representing 35.23% of the electorate, failed to cast their ballots.
This marks a significant increase from the 22% non-voters in 2017. The emerging pattern suggests that while Kenyans are increasingly willing to register as voters, fewer are motivated to translate registration into participation.
This troubling shift poses a major threat to Kenya's democratic maturity. If this trajectory continues unchecked, projections indicate that the 2027 General Election could record a voter turnout below 60 percent.
Our Four-Pillar Approach
We address voter apathy through a comprehensive strategy that combines persuasion, convenience, capacity building, and economic relevance.
Civic Confidence Building
Objective: Rebuild trust in democratic processes by improving transparency and modeling accountable civic practice.
Core Activities:
- Small-group deliberative circles
- Public Q&A sessions with officials
- Participatory mapping of local services
Why it works: Confidence grows when institutions are exposed to scrutiny and citizens see officials being answerable.
Practical Voter Support
Objective: Convert readiness into action by removing logistical and informational obstacles.
Core Activities:
- "Vote-Ready" clinics
- Coordinated transport plans
- Timed micro-mobilization via SMS/WhatsApp
Why it works: Many non-turnouts are pragmatic - fixing these reduces excuses and boosts participation.
Deliberative Policy Forums
Objective: Make political participation feel economically relevant.
Core Activities:
- County-level "Economic Deliberation Labs"
- Business-policy roundtables
- Youth policy recommendation development
Why it works: When voters perceive a clear pathway between civic action and economic gains, motivation increases.
Narrative & Media Campaigns
Objective: Shift social narratives from cynicism to agency through youth-centric storytelling.
Core Activities:
- Testimonial videos
- Campus debates and influencer partnerships
- Community theatre and "pledge and proof" platform
Why it works: Social proof and relatable narratives change norms. Peer endorsement is powerful for youth.
Our Implementation Strategy
We use a hub-and-spoke model with local adaptation to ensure cultural relevance and maximum impact.
Co-Design with Local Stakeholders
Each activity is developed in partnership with county youth offices, university unions, and community elders to ensure cultural fit and local ownership.
Hub-and-Spoke Delivery Model
Our national team produces curricula, media assets, and facilitator training while county leads adapt and deliver activities locally.
Strategic Timing
Activities are timed around registration windows and the electoral calendar to maximize relevance and impact.
Monitoring & Evaluation
We track registration-to-turnout conversion rates, civic knowledge improvements, policy recommendations adopted, and qualitative feedback.
Join Our Movement
Help us reverse the trend of voter apathy and strengthen Kenyan democracy.