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Fred Matiang’i Urges Kenyan Youth to Register as Voters Ahead of 2027 General Election
Fred Matiang'i during a past event photo/used for illustration only
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has called on young Kenyans to take up voter registration, stressing that meaningful democratic participation begins with the youth actively engaging in the electoral process.
In a statement shared on his X account on Wednesday, January 21, 2026, Matiang’i revealed that he spent time engaging members of Generation Z who paid him a courtesy visit, using the interaction to underscore the importance of registering as voters.
“I spent the day engaging Gen Zs who paid me a courtesy visit. I encouraged them to register and be heard,” Matiang’i said.
The Jubilee Party’s presidential candidate framed voter registration as more than a civic responsibility, describing it as the cornerstone of a strong and accountable democracy.
“A strong democracy begins with young people choosing to participate,” he noted.
Youth at the center of Kenya’s future
Matiang’i’s remarks alignwith his New Year message to Kenyans, in which he urged citizens—particularly the youth—to take decisive action in shaping the country’s future ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a post-dated January 1, 2026, he warned that without deliberate efforts this year, Kenya risks sinking deeper into economic hardship and declining living standards.
“Unless substantial efforts are made in 2026, our country will continue sliding into the abyss of poverty and dehumanising living conditions. Unprecedented corruption levels within government and unfair distribution of public resources continue to hurt our country in unimaginable ways,” he stated.
Call for nationwide voter registration exercise
He further called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to roll out a nationwide mass voter registration exercise, with a particular focus on universities and colleges, to ensure all eligible voters are captured.
“With our eye firmly focused on winning the General Election in 2027, I urge all eligible Kenyans, mainly the youth, to register as voters in large numbers,” Matiang’i said.
“The IEBC must urgently launch a nationwide mass registration exercise to ensure no one is left behind. Specifically, voter registration centres should be opened in universities and colleges to make the process more accessible to young people.”
Matiang’i has consistently positioned youth participation as a key pillar of democratic renewal, arguing that the country’s long-term stability and prosperity depend on the active involvement of young citizens in national decision-making.
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