While IEBC falters, Gen Z ignites nationwide voter registration drive

IEBC Chairperson Erastus Ethekon and other commission members during a media briefing at Anniversary Towers in Nairobi on January 27, 2026. [Jonah Onyango, Standard] The 2027 General Election fever is catching up with the youth as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) drags its feet on civic education. Accused of not taking voting seriously, some young people have decided to take the initiative and push the agenda forward themselves. "The Generation Z are tired of just lamenting about poor leadership online and are now changing their friendship circles into caucuses where they have resolutely turned civic awareness into their daily assignment which is gaining traction among peer groups," wrote @Kevo_mwangi on X. Youth engagement is no longer confined to back-to-back socialising with little attention to national affairs. Many are now insisting that their peers hold voters' cards to remain part of these circles. IEBC chairman Erastus Ethekon recently told journalists that the commission lacks sufficient funds to conduct civic education and mass voter registration, and is awaiting further allocations in preparation for the upcoming elections. "IEBC had proposed a budget of Sh61 billion, but Parliament reduced it, affecting our operations. Addressing that, alongside voter education, will be done through more consultations with Parliament and the Treasury," said Ethekon. Critics, however, argue that the commission is complacent as next year's polls approach, with millions of young people still unregistered. They recommend recruiting tech-savvy volunteers to expand civic education outreach. Activist Ademba Allans has been urging Kenyans to verify if their friends are registered voters. He shared a video on X featuring full names and IEBC voter details of his friends, obtained directly from the voter verification portal. Tuko Kadi initiative Ademba has gone further than sharing online content. Last Tuesday, he organised a mass Gen Z registration drive at the IEBC office in Kasarani, titled "Tuko Kadi", as part of broader voter registration efforts in Kasarani sub-county. "I am calling on the youth to turn out in large numbers. We are not just making noise online. We are on the ground to ensure as many young people as possible are registered. Everyone should carry their National ID, even if you are a voter in another area and wish to transfer your vote to Kasarani," said Ademba. The "Tuko Kadi" initiative is now trending nationally, placing IEBC in the spotlight as thousands of young Kenyans seize the moment to register as voters. At the heart of the viral movement is Ademba, a 26-year-old photojournalist born and raised in Nairobi's Kibra slums. He says the idea was born from frustration with claims that young people are reluctant to register. "The narrative that younger people are not registering to vote-that was a big motivation," Ademba said, noting that the initiative aims to demonstrate that the youth are both willing and ready to shape the country's future through the ballot. The response, he adds, has been overwhelming. Viral videos and images of long queues of young people across the country have signalled a growing civic awakening. Ademba revealed that even some members of the political class, whom he did not name, had encouraged him to "ride on the wave," offers which he said he declined. However, the movement's goal goes beyond registration. Ademba emphasises that the end game is twofold: ensuring that young people not only register but also turn out to vote-and, critically, make informed choices. "We don't just want numbers; we want informed voters," he said, highlighting the need for sustained civic and political education. Ademba added that he is willing to work with IEBC should they approach him. "If I am given money to mobilise people to register as voters, it's a good cause. I'll accept that money, because I won't be paid to tell people to vandalise property," he said. Ironically, this "movement" is thriving not because of institutional efficiency, but in spite of it. Flooded with images and video clips, online platforms such as TikTok and X have seen thousands of youths proudly display their voter registration status, urging peers to do the same. Under the hashtag #TukoKadi, loosely translated as "we have the card," the forum has become the fulcrum through which young Kenyans, popularly known as Gen Zs, are mobilising themselves into action. Applying a mix of creativity, humour, and urgency, they rally their peers to register as voters under the now-viral "Tuko Kadi" wave, making the 2027 presidential election voter registration campaign a civic duty. Some clips are humorous, showing friends teasing one another for delaying registration or dramatising the "fear" of being left out. Others adopt a more serious, almost activist stance, calling out apathy and challenging fellow youth to take responsibility for their future. Music, trending sounds, and catchy captions amplify the message, with groups of friends documenting their journeys to polling stations. Others have circulated posters branded "Tuko Kadi", with inscriptions encouraging people to come out and register. A similar exercise was witnessed in Nyeri town, while Chuka University students staged a protest against Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner David Gitonga, who insisted that registration would start on 30 March. Activist Hanifa Adan supported the initiative, calling on youths to act as they seek to end voter apathy "one registration, one selfie, one video at a time." She urgeed them to trend online, brag about it, and post about it, stating that this is the only way to rid the country of poor leadership. One viral clip, shared by TikTok creator Lixine Vela, shows a young voter introducing her "small circle" in a video titled "Let Me Introduce You to My Small Circle." Vela films her friends at dance parties and indoors, emphasising that every one of them is already a registered voter while displaying each individual's voter acknowledgement slip. The clip, which has been viewed over 280,000 times and garnered 50,000 likes, sparked a chain of challenges that have dominated TikTok, with many caricatures showing Kenyans introducing their own "small circles" of registered voters. Jennifer Wanjiku, an advocate of youth participation, wrote on X: "If they are your friends and they are not registered as voters, cut them off!" Will Olwande joined the conversation, suggesting he would host a Kenyan concert where a voter's card would serve as the only valid entry. The ticket price would be discounted if attendees could prove they were registered voters. Small circles "I am going to do the unthinkable and host a voter's-card-entry event for Kenyan music lovers. Your ticket is discounted if you are a registered voter, and most of your favourite artists will come and hang with me! Let's be the change we want!" wrote Olwande. Supporting the movement, June Gathu wrote: "I am genuinely going to cut off friends and family who do not register as voters and actually go to vote that day, because we cannot be suffering together while they do nothing about it." Another video showed a group of friends deciding to spend the day together, but instead of engaging in leisure activities, they visited a nearby IEBC registration centre and all registered, ensuring their "small circle" aligned politically. The youth have also shared screenshots from the portal displaying the message: "Voter found! Details as below." Across the country, Gen Zs are documenting their daily-or nocturnal-outings, all featuring tight-knit groups who have registered as voters or are in the process. These youths are not just socialising; they are actively working to restore the country and cleanse Kenya's political system, shunning anyone in their circle who is not a registered voter. This new wave has forced every member of such youth circles to carry a voter's card if they wish to continue enjoying the social benefits of the group; failure to do so results in being blacklisted.

While IEBC falters, Gen Z ignites nationwide voter registration drive

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