Political campaigns have intensified countrywide following Parliament’s approval on June 4, 2025, of the new Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson and commissioners. 

Although the High Court has halted the commissioners’ swearing-in, it is a foregone conclusion that the IEBC team will assume their long-delayed constitutional duties ahead of the 2027 General Election. 

The National Assembly’s Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has already revealed that there is a proposal to allocate Ksh57.1 billion to prepare for the election, among other undertakings staggered across the 2025/2026, 2026/2027, 2027/2028 financial years. 

Amid howls of protest from the Opposition that the IEBC commissioners favour the “broad-based government” of President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga, both sides of the political divide have caught the polls fever, actively wooing the electorate. 

From the incendiary counter-accusations, one would imagine the elections are just around the corner, with the heated campaigns revolving around murky politics, power and money. 

While President Ruto enjoys the advantage of incumbency and largesse built up since he weaved his way into the Executive 12 years ago, now complemented by the doyen of opposition politics and erstwhile rival Raila in his camp, the stakes remain high. 

The nascent coalition uniting Opposition parties and potential presidential candidates formed along regional and ethnic lines is orphaned without its historically most accomplished figure now on the side of the adversary. 

Even as they mount campaign rallies and meet-the-people tours countrywide, they know they face a difficult task against a formidable opponent whose reputation has, however, been dented by unfulfilled 2022 election campaign promises and last year’s popular Gen Z mass protests, whose anniversary falls this month. 

It is apparent from the tone of their campaigns that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, People’s Liberation Party leader Martha Karua, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa and former Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi are capitalising on the grievances exposed by Gen Z as the pillar of their political platform against the incumbent. 

The new generation of politically conscious young men and women, mostly university students, anchored their actions in the Constitution to expose the frailties of leadership hampering good governance and economic growth that continue to harm them most. 

Highlighting corruption, unemployment, negative ethnicity, political deceit and arrogance, the youth, backed by a majority of frustrated citizens, are demanding radical changes in the management of current and future political and economic affairs. 

They insist on being at the centre of the urgently required rapid transformation departing from the prevailing deceptive brand of politics stifling democracy and socioeconomic growth while locking the youth out of the governance system. 

Should the fledgling Opposition coalition manage to convince Gen Z to form a joint pre-election strategic movement, the incumbency will definitely face a daunting challenge come the 2027 polls. 

The writer comments on national affairs