As the political temperature gradually rises ahead of the 2027 general elections, Kasmuel McOure, a vocal figure within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Youth League, has sounded a warning: money will play a decisive role in shaping how young Kenyans vote.

Speaking during an interview on a local TV station on Friday, May 23, 2025, McOure drew a direct line between economic realities and youth political choices, calling for urgent reforms in how youth engagement in politics is structured.

“The youth will vote with the money in 2027, not because they are greedy,” McOure said, “but because of how the status quo has been and how it has to be maintained.”

His remarks come amid rising public debate over the influence of political patronage and economic disenfranchisement on Kenya’s youthful electorate, which forms the majority of the voting bloc.

McOure, a rising political operative within ODM and a key player in the youth mobilization space, lamented the socio-economic hardships facing millions of young Kenyans. He emphasized that the prevailing economic climate is pushing youth to make choices based less on ideology and more on immediate survival needs.

“Youth are tired. They’re unemployed, they’re underpaid, and they’re desperate,” he said. “So when a politician shows up with some money, it’s not corruption in their eyes; it’s lunch for today, fare for tomorrow, and maybe rent for the month.”

He pointed out that while Kenyan youth are politically conscious and want real change, their material circumstances often leave them vulnerable to short-term enticements.

 “Let’s not pretend that someone who hasn’t eaten in two days is going to care about a manifesto. It’s transactional politics because the system has failed them,” he added.

Maintaining the status quo

McOure also issued a pointed critique of the political establishment, suggesting that both government and opposition parties have done little to structurally empower youth. He described current youth inclusion efforts as largely symbolic and cosmetic, without any real power being devolved.

“You can’t give young people branded t-shirts and selfies at rallies and say you’ve included them,” he said. “We need youth in decision-making roles, youth in Parliament, and youth at the negotiating tables. Not as tokens, but as agents of change.”

In a rare moment of introspection, McOure admitted that even within ODM and other major political parties, internal reforms are needed to give young leaders meaningful platforms.

“I send a stern warning to ODM party members because they are excited hanging around the likes of DP Kithure Kindiki, forgetting what we stand for as a party. They are becoming hangers-on instead of doing their role of oversight, legislation, and representation,” he alarmed.

 “All parties need to democratize from within. If we want young people to take elections seriously, we must first take them seriously as political actors.”

Call for structural change

Asked about solutions, McOure advocated for reforms in political financing and civic education. He argued that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and civil society must scale up voter education targeting young people, not just on the mechanics of voting, but on how politics and policy intersect with their daily lives.

He also called for the enforcement of existing laws on campaign financing and transparency, stating, “We can’t keep pretending that money doesn’t buy influence. Let’s regulate it, let’s make it fair, and let’s give youth candidates a fighting chance.”

McOure appealed to young Kenyans to begin organizing, not just mobilizing.

 “Stop waiting for someone to come and rescue you with handouts. Let’s build structures, let’s back our own, and let’s demand our place at the table. Not in 2032. Now.”

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