Kenya’s Gen Z is no longer content with hashtags alone. They are registering, running, and reshaping politics.
If you are a Gen Z, uko kadi? The phrase has echoed across Kenya for days, ignited by young people mobilizing their peers to register as voters. They insist that voting is not just a civic duty—it is a direct way to influence leadership and policy.
Photojournalist Allan Ademba explains how the Tuko Kadi initiative is rallying Gen Zs to register, emphasizing grassroots campaigns, peer‑to‑peer mobilization, and digital platforms that make voter registration both accessible and appealing.
Ademba is no stranger to civic action. He rose to prominence during the 2024 Gen Z‑led protests against the Finance Bill. His frontline coverage earned him recognition as a “silent hero” and a feature in the BBC documentary Blood Parliament.
“Because I was a citizen journalist, I documented the 2024 protests. We even produced a BBC documentary that went viral, and suddenly my name became prominent. With that visibility came a bigger following and a stronger platform. I chose to use it to make more Kenyans aware of what is happening, why these processes matter, and why their voices must be heard,” he said in a recent interview on National Television.
Kenya’s Gen Z are increasingly aware of their political power, and the Tuko Kadi campaign is channeling that energy into early voter registration. The movement thrives on a digital‑first strategy, using social media platforms, memes, and creative storytelling to make registration relatable and urgent for young audiences.
Read More
At its core, the campaign relies on peer‑to‑peer influence—student leaders, influencers, and community organizers are driving the message home, ensuring that the call to register resonates within youth circles. Registration is framed not as a bureaucratic formality but as a gateway to accountability and change, a step toward shaping the country’s future.
Yet the campaign also acknowledges the challenges: apathy, misinformation, and logistical hurdles such as long queues or lack of ID cards. To overcome these barriers, Tuko Kadi is rolling out education drives and forging partnerships with institutions, determined to make voter registration both accessible and appealing.
Kenya’s youth form the majority of the population. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) plans to register new voters by 2027. The nation has over 70 percent youth. If mobilized, this bloc could decisively shape electoral outcomes.
Already, young aspirants are stepping forward. Agneta Mwangale, is vying for the Bungoma County Woman Representative seat.
This surge is rooted in the 2024 #RejectFinanceBill protests, where Gen Z shocked the political establishment with leaderless, digital mobilization demanding a fair tax regime. That spirit now fuels voter registration drives and candidacies.
A Generational Shift
Youth leaders like Said Musa in Nakuru, aspiring to be the Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Biashara Ward in Nakuru County, openly call for elders to pave the way. “It is time for older leaders to step aside so young people can lead,” Musa told media.
The Niko Kadi/Tuko Kadi movement, launched in March 2026, embodies this shift. Founded by Allan Ademba and other activists, the campaign blends TikTok challenges, ground activations, and “tweets for votes” to convert online activism into real‑world influence.
Their goal: register over 100,000 new voters nationwide and ensure Kenya’s youth are not sidelined in 2027.
Kenya’s Gen Z is no longer content with hashtags alone. They are registering, running, and reshaping politics.
Stay connected with us on WhatsApp and Facebook for instant updates and breaking news as it happens.
