Youth Council voter registration opens ahead of elections

Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs speaking during a media briefing on 27 August 2026. Photo/ Courtesy

The government has opened voter registration for the National Youth Council elections, paving the way for young Kenyans to participate in the long-awaited polls scheduled for October.

Principal Secretary for Youth Affairs and Creative Economy Fikirini Jacobs said Friday that eligible young people can now register through the official portal as preparations for the elections enter a critical phase.

Speaking during a consultative meeting with county executives and national government administrators in Nairobi, Jacobs said the government had settled on a hybrid electoral system combining online and manual processes.

“We are happy to announce the official launch of the voter registration portal. So from today, young people will be able now to register as voters,” Jacobs said.

The portal, elections.nyckenya.go.ke, was developed with support from Konza Technopolis and is intended to provide a secure platform for youth voter registration.

Jacobs said the government was working with county governments and national administration officials to expand civic education and ensure young people understand the registration, voting and candidature processes.

“We want to see that after this, we can amplify the education, the civic education, which is part of the statutory requirements of the regulation,” he said.

The elections are scheduled to begin with ward-level polls on October 6, followed by constituency elections on October 16 and the National Youth Congress on October 30.

Jacobs said the government was determined to avoid further delays in conducting the elections, which were last held in 2012.

“Today, 14 years later, we are faced with a situation that we have to deliver this election without postponing,” he said.

The National Youth Council is intended to provide young people with a structured platform through which they can articulate their interests and participate in governance.

County governments have also pledged to support the electoral process, particularly through mobilisation and civic education at the grassroots.

Paul Lekwenye, the Busia County Executive Committee Member for Youth and chairperson of the caucus of county executives responsible for youth and sports, said counties would work with national government administrators and security agencies to protect the integrity of the elections.

“We are going to ensure that we do not have such interferences with the election of our youth,” Lekwenye said.

The government is now expected to intensify voter education and registration ahead of the first phase of the elections in October.