Youth leaders urge peers to reject political violence ahead of 2027 polls
By Viola Kosome, July 24, 2026Youth leaders and peace actors have raised concerns over the increasing vulnerability of young people to political manipulation, warning that rising political temperatures ahead of the 2027 General Election could fuel violence if preventive measures are not strengthened.
Speaking during a Youth Civic Engagement Forum and Festival in Kisumu on Friday, July 24, 2026, Youth Arts Development and Entrepreneurship Network (YADN) East Africa Director Sammy Gathii said young people often become the face of political violence despite not being the architects of the conflict.
He said the forum was aimed at giving young people a platform to speak for themselves and to commit to promoting peaceful political participation, rather than being used to advance politicians’ interests.
“We want young people to disassociate themselves from violence and instead become active champions of peace, cohesion and responsible civic engagement,” said Gathii.
He noted that unemployment, limited economic opportunities and the misuse of social media continue to make many young people susceptible to recruitment into politically motivated violence.
According to Gathii, while youth are energetic, innovative and highly connected through digital platforms, these strengths are sometimes exploited by political actors to spread misinformation, mobilise supporters against rivals and fuel conflict.
He said the organisation is using arts, theatre, film, digital campaigns and peer-to-peer engagements to encourage positive civic participation among young people across western Kenya.
“The challenge is that many discussions about young people happen without their direct involvement. This initiative allows them to voice their concerns and become part of the solution,” he added.
University student leaders
Tracy Anyango, a student leader at Maseno University, challenged young people to actively seek leadership positions instead of remaining on the sidelines of decision-making.
Anyango said youth should organise themselves into unified networks capable of addressing political, social and economic challenges affecting their generation.
“We are the leaders of today, not tomorrow. Young people must organise, support one another and participate in leadership because if we don’t, others will make decisions on our behalf,” she said.
National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) Nyanza Regional Coordinator Castro Barraza expressed concern over growing political intolerance and the emergence of organised groups associated with political violence.
He said the commission was working with partners to identify and mitigate emerging conflicts as the country prepares for the next elections.
Barraza warned politicians against making inflammatory statements that could undermine peace, saying the commission would take action against individuals found violating the NCIC Act.
“Our message to political leaders is to refrain from divisive rhetoric that threatens peace and cohesion. The commission is monitoring developments, and where the law is breached, appropriate action will be taken,” he said.
The forum brought together youth groups, civil society organisations, students, boda boda representatives, traders and government agencies to discuss strategies for promoting peaceful civic engagement and preventing electoral violence in Kisumu and neighbouring counties.