Ademba Allans, a key figure in the ‘Tuko Kadi’ movement, has said the Gen Z-led voter mobilisation campaign is not funded by conventional sponsors but driven by the lived experiences and frustrations of ordinary Kenyans.

Speaking during an interview on a local station on Sunday, March 23, 2026, Allans framed the movement as one sponsored by citizens themselves, past injustices, and a growing demand for accountability through the ballot.

When asked about who sponsors the movement, Allans employed symbolic language to challenge traditional notions of funding, recasting the movement as a people-powered push for change.

“We are sponsored by Kenyans; we are sponsored by those who died in 2024,” Ademba noted.

Movement fuelled by frustrations

According to Allans, the movement is fuelled by the frustrations and realities facing ordinary Kenyans. He cited those who lost their lives in 2024, as well as alleged cases of public funds mismanagement, as the driving force behind the urgency to participate in the democratic process.

He reiterated that the push for voter registration among young people is driven by lived realities rather than financial backing.

“We are sponsored by the 1.3 trillion that was stolen the other day; we are sponsored by the 43 million that was stolen from e-Citizen,” Allans stated.

Allans further criticised politicians trying to hijack the youth-led voter registration campaign, saying the movement is a citizen-driven effort aimed at holding leaders accountable and ultimately removing them from office.

Ruto on Niko Kadi

He hit back at President Ruto, who recently joined the ‘Niko Kadi’ campaign in urging the youth to register as voters ahead of the 2027 elections.

“#TukoKadi is simply a citizen-led mass voter registration across the country. Citizens are mobilising themselves to register to vote. I started it, and it has grown countrywide; it is a force to be reckoned with. #TukoKadi is here to make change,” Allans said.

He emphasised that the initiative is more than just registration.

“We are going to sustain Niko Kadi because #TukoKadi is not ending with people taking the vote. People have to take the vote, know the voting process, get civic education, then people have to turn up for voting,” Ademba said.

This comes days after former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua slammed the president, accusing him of attempting to hijack the Niko Kadi initiative, saying that in his case it is a red card, not the Niko Kadi, as Ruto claims.