Parties must address intergenerational tensions

Opposition leaders led by Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua address a  rally in Bisil, Kajiado County on October 03,2025 during a meet the people tour to solidify their base. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

Kenya stands on the edge of a generational reckoning. By 2027, those aged 18 to 35 who make up 36 per cent of our population, will decide the direction of our democracy. Yet today, our political parties treat youth as spectators.

In Kenya, political parties remain the most reliable and structured pathway to government. Ours is a multi-party democracy by design, enshrined in Article 4(2) of the Constitution. Yet fewer than 20 per cent of young people are formally affiliated with any, according to ORPP.