The Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu wants the youth to actively participate in the formation of political parties to ensure their interests are considered in their constitutions.

Citing last year’s Gen Z protests, during which the youth declared themselves ‘partyless,’ Nderitu faulted them, saying this would deny them the ability to push for accountability from the political parties that form government since they are not members.

“One thing I never agreed with you is when you said you are partyless because you cannot be partyless and then you want to form an opinion within politics. The first thing is to organise yourself within political parties so that you challenge the processes and the older people, the succession process,” Nderitu stated.

Nderitu told the youth attending this year’s People Dialogue Festival at Uhuru Park, Nairobi that they can also form their political party as it only requires at least three people.

She said: “Young people, you have to come join political parties and even if you don’t join, then you form yours, that fit your ideology.”

The three can later recruit members into that political party, who are then expected to shape the opinion of their own party.

According to Nderitu, the youth must refrain from taking money from politicians to support them during an election, as it will be impossible to hold them accountable once they are in power.

“When the youth, instead of asking for accountability on the part of political leaders and the political party leaders, they actually look for handouts from them, that is where the rain starts beating us. It’s a clarion call for all of us that we form political parties and support them,” she said.

Annual subscription

In other jurisdictions, she said, members pay an annual subscription fee to their political parties which gives them an upper hand to ask them questions and demand accountability.  

“The minute you let politicians do what they want and you are not a party member, then you can’t participate in seeking accountability for those political parties, and that becomes a problem,” she said.

However, the youth defended themselves for not participating in the political processes, saying the politicians misuse them and dump them once the elections are over.

Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi alleged that the country is witnessing what he termed as the resurgence of an imperial presidency.

He commended young people for their active engagement in national affairs but cautioned against their claim of being “leaderless” and “partyless,” warning that such a stance could encourage anarchy.

Murungi also criticised the law for being discriminatory against youth seeking to form political parties, citing strict regulations and financial requirements.

“How can young people raise Sh120,000 to open 24 offices across different counties? These barriers make political participation inaccessible to many,” he stated.

“We have cried, we have lamented, and at times even thrown tantrums, but that is not enough. The time has come for us to light a candle, bring hope, and offer practical, concrete solutions to advance democracy in this country.”

Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah, however, disagreed with Murungi’s view on youth participation, arguing that young people do not need to be part of organised political parties to contribute to governance.

Political spectrum

“The slogans ‘partyless’ or ‘leaderless’ are not wrong. When the youth took to the streets, they were not fighting for power but demanding accountability across the political spectrum,” Omtatah said.

Deputy British High Commissioner Ed Barnett emphasised the need for political parties to foster democracy.

“We must all seek the right balance—political parties that nurture and contribute to a democracy that listens, serves, and includes,” Barnett stated during the forum.

Law Society of Kenya President Faith Odhiambo urged Kenyans to hold state institutions accountable to strengthen transparency and good governance.

“We need to go back to asking tough questions of independent institutions. How is the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) clearing individuals who have been arrested and jailed?” she questioned.

A member of the KANU Youth League, Chibeka Matara, recounted how politicians want the youth to volunteer in party activities, yet some parties receive money from the Political Parties Fund.

“They only involve us when it comes to assisting the party in terms of volunteering and donating our time towards party programmes and activities.

But again, when it comes to decision making and being on top of the table, we are ignored most of the time and given opportunity to participate in areas they deem fit for the youth,” Matara said.

Election cycle

She went on: “We find that at the end of an election cycle, we have invested so much effort within our political spaces, but we are not rewarded at the end. Other people are rewarded instead.”

Youthful Lawyer Sandra Ochola cautioned that when the voice of the youth is ignored at the political space, young people get demoralized, which also lowers their drive to participate in elections.

During the last general election, Ochola noted, the youth said there was no point of going to vote as the ‘system’ would not change.

Terming 2027 as a defining moment in the politics of Kenya, the youth vowed to rise above the barriers that have prevented them from participating in elections including registering as voters when the Interim Elections and Boundaries Commissions (IEBC) rolls out the exercise.

“I want all of you people to be registered voters. If you lose 5 million and you’re remaining with 2 million, there is no way you will get 5 million votes.

The system will work for us. Let’s not have that excuse that the system is not working or the system is already predetermined. In 2027, it’s going to be different. He must go home,” Matara said amid cheering from her fellow youth.