Youth Affairs Ministry Launches NYC Voter Registration Portal Ahead of October Elections

Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs speaks during the launch of the National Youth Council voter registration portal ahead of the October elections, (photo credits).

By: Gladys Karuga.

The State Department for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy has launched the voter registration portal for the National Youth Council (NYC) elections, paving the way for young Kenyans to register and participate in the long-awaited elections scheduled for October.

The announcement was made on Thursday during a high-level consultative and coordination meeting bringing together senior national and county government officials, county commissioners, County Executive Committee Members responsible for youth affairs, National Youth Council officials and other stakeholders at the Kenya School of Government in Lower Kabete, Nairobi.

The elections are set to be conducted in three phases, with ward-level elections scheduled for October 6, constituency elections on October 16, and the National Youth Congress on October 30.

The State Department said the consultations are part of efforts to adopt a whole-of-government approach in ensuring the elections are delivered effectively and give young people a structured platform through which they can articulate their issues and participate in leadership.

“We do not have a youth for the national government and a youth for the county government. We have a youth of the Republic of Kenya who deserves to get services and attention from government,” Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs said.

The official said collaboration between the national government, county governments and the National Government Administration Officers would be critical in expanding civic education and ensuring young people understand the registration and electoral process.

He said the government wants to ensure that young people understand how they can register as voters, participate as candidates and ultimately elect representatives at ward, constituency and national levels.

“Today we are happy to announce the official launch of the voter registration portal. From today, young people will be able to register as voters and participate actively as we continue to share information through different platforms on how they can participate in the next phases,” he said.

The National Youth Council elections were last held in 2012, before the implementation of the current devolved governance structure. Officials said the upcoming elections therefore present an opportunity to establish a structured representation system for young people across the country.

The government said the National Youth Council is intended to amplify youth voices and provide a legitimate and structured avenue through which young people can engage with government and participate in leadership.

The National Steering Committee overseeing the elections has settled on a hybrid electoral system, allowing for the use of both online and manual processes in accordance with the regulations.

Officials said the hybrid approach is expected to take advantage of technology while also accommodating young people who may face challenges accessing online services.

The meeting also focused on strengthening cooperation between national and county governments, particularly in the implementation of programmes targeting young people.

The State Department highlighted the role played by county governments and National Government Administration Officers in the rollout of the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA) programme, which targets 820,000 young people across Kenya.

The government said collaboration would also help prevent duplication of programmes and ensure that more young people benefit from available financing and empowerment opportunities.

Principal Secretary Fikirini Jacobs further urged county governments and national administration officials to strengthen civic education and mobilise young people to take advantage of the NYC elections.

“This is a big opportunity, which shows that our young people in Kenya are not done. They are also under pressure to lead,” he said.

The government also linked the youth empowerment agenda to skills development and labour mobility, noting that Kenya's youthful population presents an opportunity that can be leveraged through education, technical and vocational training, entrepreneurship and access to employment opportunities.

Officials said the NYC elections will provide young people with a structured leadership platform while strengthening their participation in decision-making at different levels of government.

The State Department called on eligible young Kenyans to register through the newly launched portal and prepare to participate in the various stages of the electoral process ahead of the October elections.