Young Turks vs Old Guard: How youth uprising is shaking country's politics

A crowd at a political rally. [File, Standard] As the country approaches 2027, political activity is intensifying, with community leaders mobilising local support and forging alliances ahead of next year's polls. In Baringo County, and across the wider Kalenjin community region, political fault lines are becoming more apparent. What initially appeared to be routine party primaries and mobilisation has evolved into a high-stakes contest of strategy, alliances, and generational rivalry. Emerging youth-led factions are challenging the dominance of entrenched leaders. Meanwhile, seasoned politicians navigate efforts to retain their influence, not only in this electoral cycle but also in the ongoing struggle for leadership of the Kalenjin community after President William Ruto exits office. Central to this realignment is the so-called "5G network", a coordinated team of youthful leaders closely linked with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen. Across Baringo County, this faction has systematically built grassroots influence, positioning itself as the new face of the county's political future. The group includes politically astute and energetic leaders such as Mogotio MP Reuben Kiborek; Vincent Chemitei, the newly-elected Baringo Senator; Wycliffe Tobole, who has declared to run for the Baringo North seat; William Kamket, Tiaty MP; and Florence Chematia, the Baringo County Woman Representative, who is reportedly eyeing the Baringo South seat in 2027. This faction's activities extend beyond party nominations, as it orchestrates coordinated ground strategies to outmanoeuvre the older generation and secure long-term influence. Their aims are clear: to dominate grassroots structures, influence nomination outcomes, and present a united front capable of translating local power into broader Kalenjin community influence. Against this rising tide of youth-driven strategy stand several experienced figures: Musa Sirma, the Eldama Ravine MP; Charles Kamuren (MP for Baringo South); Joseph Makilap (MP for Baringo North); and Joshua Kandie (MP for Baringo Central). These so-called 'old guard' leaders face a critical test - can experience, personal networks, and political reputations withstand a highly organised, strategic youthful faction seeking to redefine post-2027 Kalenjin community leadership? Beyond Baringo, other Kalenjin leaders are carefully planning their positioning after 2027. Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has been quietly forging alliances behind the scenes. Meanwhile, Emurua Dikirr MP Johana Ngeno and Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago have used cultural platforms such as the Kalenjin Music Festival and musicians' empowerment events to bolster support among younger voters. Analysts contend that the youth are supporting political formations led by their community leaders, often without knowing their manifestos. They further express concern that heightened political activity across the country seems to have diminished the youth's ability to forge a distinct political path and pursue their own agenda outside the formations promoted by entrenched politicians. Joseph Omondi, a governance expert and the Executive Director of Midrift Hurinet, a non-governmental organisation, stated that the youth "appear to have been entangled in the political mesh laid by key ethnic community leaders." "Sections of the youth now seem caught up in a confusing and complex political environment that puts them in a dilemma between their crusade for change and supporting their community leaders." "We have large sections of youth supporting a political party, but if you ask them what the party stands for, they will only say that they are either Wantam or Tutam, which is mere political sloganeering," Omondi said. The governance expert argued that the youth's failure to establish strong leadership structures, including youth-led political parties and movements, has deprived them of a space to define their own political direction. "We now see a situation where any youth leader seeking to contest for any political position is joining established political parties, conforming to their culture and submitting to existing leadership hierarchies," Omondi said. A youthful Nairobi-based lawyer, David Kipruto, who took part in the recent Baringo senatorial by-election, said that young people were unable to shape their own political future due to manipulation by prominent politicians and well-established political parties. "The majority of the youths supporting me said they could not afford to travel to their villages to cast their votes. ''I also observed that young people were unable to travel to Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission offices to register as voters due to a lack of fare," Kipruto said. He expressed concern that, with the ongoing widespread mobilisation of Kenyans by political parties dominant in different ethnic regions, it was unlikely that young people would be able to present their own agenda for social and economic transformation. "The majority of young people are now joining their ethnic kingpins and other influential community leaders who guide them to pursue a certain political path," Kipruto added. Another young aspirant, Victor Ngatia, said that although political mobilisation had taken on an ethnic character, he believed young people still had a chance to organise themselves and fight for their own space in the national political arena. Ngatia, who has previously contested for the Nakuru Town West parliamentary seat and has also coordinated campaigns for the Jubilee party and Azimio coalition, stated that social media remains a key tool that young people could use to push their agenda for better governance and transparency in government affairs. He also pointed out that youth-led political parties would eventually have to negotiate with established parties, as no single party could form the government. "The change will be gradual as it is not easy to push out the old guards from the political scene as they possess vast financial resources, which they use to undermine emerging leaders, but the momentum for change has started," Ngatia stated.

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