WHY MOST YOUNG KENYANS MIGHT NOT TURN OUT TO VOTE THIS YEAR

With Kenyans expected to go to the polls later this year in August to exercise their right to vote. There is a concern of a probable low voter turn in this years election. One of the factors that point to this is the the recently concluded voter registration exercise across the country that witnessed particular very low interest from the citizenry. The Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission IEBC the body mandated with the undertaking and execution of conducting fair and free elections decried they needed more time, but I contend, time was not the issue here.

With much discontent with the political discourse of the country, the Youth is now disillusioned from the same old tales and lies and fake promises made to them by the leaders and  Kenyan politicians in broad daylight. The matter with trust has made the citizenry have no trust with whatever the politicians might say.

The options on the table or rather what we might consider as the horses in the race is nothing new but a repeat of the same from the early 2000 nd therefore, for the youth, this is like watching an old boring movie when its already past sleeping hours and who would rather do that than just go to sleep?

On the other hand however, this disillusionment might play to the advantage of this politicians as the process is already flawed when there is no interest in the process by the youth who make up the largest percentage of the Kenyan population. In turn, the disinterest and non-participation will also cost the country heavy in terms of a re-run if both Ruto and Raila do not reach the required numbers for the pronouncement of either as a winner. Whichever way you look at it or from whatever political side you stand, it is a Lose- Lose situation, the only hope is that leadership at the local levels is improved and that there will be self accountability on the side of the aspirants who eventually end up filling different positions in government.

The judicial system will also have a very critical role to play in the next phase post the Elections of August in making determined decisions that will be critical for the future of this beloved nation of Kenya.