Political activist Morara Kebaso has highlighted the youth as the critical force in determining the results of Kenya’s 2027 general election.
Speaking on Wednesday during an interview at Spice FM, Kebaso argued that opposition parties, even if fully united, may struggle to challenge President William Ruto without active youth engagement.
Kebaso pointed to Generation Z as particularly influential, noting their ability to counter state-sanctioned disruptions and public demonstrations.
“The youths are the only ones who can defeat state violence that comes in the form of goons and the police. The Gen Zs demonstrated that they can defeat it and occupy parliament while on the streets of Nairobi,” he told the radio station.
He also emphasized the technological advantage of young voters, suggesting that they can rapidly disseminate information and monitor election results independently.
According to Kebaso, this digital fluency allows youths to challenge official narratives and campaigns in ways that could diminish the impact of traditional political resources.
Addressing campaign financing, Kebaso argued that money alone may no longer secure electoral success.
“With a youth euphoria, your money becomes useless. Money can become useless in a campaign if voters decide so, and money, therefore, will not influence an election,” he said.
Kenya’s youth population constitutes a substantial share of the electorate, with over one-third of registered voters under 35.
Their increasing participation in political demonstrations, online advocacy, and parliamentary activism has previously influenced debates on governance and policy, particularly in Nairobi and other urban centres.