By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 3 January 2026 - Kisumu Woman Representative Rozaah Buyu has launched an ambitious campaign to mobilise young people in Kisumu County and across Nyanza, urging them to obtain National Identity cards, register as voters, and join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in large numbers.
The initiative, framed as a step toward enhancing youth bargaining power and active participation in governance, comes against a backdrop of persistently low voter registration among young people in the region.
Speaking during her end-of-year talent search and youth celebration in Chulaimbo, Kisumu West constituency, Buyu stressed that the youth must seize the opportunity to formalise their political voice.
“Numbers matter in democracy,” she said.
“When you are registered to vote, you have bargaining power. You can demand accountability, influence government decisions, and participate in shaping your future. Without registration, your voice remains invisible.”
The event, attended by thousands of young people, was energised by the performance of Prince Indah who added excitement while Buyu’s message on civic engagement resonated clearly with the audience.
Buyu revealed that she would lead a sustained mobilisation exercise across Kisumu County, targeting young people who have become eligible to vote since the last general election.
According to IEBC data while Kisumu County has over 600,000 registered voters, a significant number of youth remain unregistered, leaving a substantial portion of the county’s potential electorate outside formal political processes.
In recent registration drives, Kisumu recorded only a few thousand new additions to the voters’ roll, highlighting the scale of the gap.
Buyu argued that this under-registration diminishes the county’s leverage in national and local governance, as decisions on resource allocation, political representation, and development priorities are influenced by registered voter numbers.
Buyu's initiative is part of a broader ODM strategy. ODM national chair Gladys Wanga has committed to ensuring that youth registration drives extend across all counties in Nyanza, aiming to bring at least 1.5 million new voters on board ahead of the 2027 general election by complimenting efforts by the state keen to see millions register to vote and have made ID acquisition as easy as possible for the eligible youth.
Wanga emphasised that the party is focused on enabling as many eligible young people as possible to register and obtain voter cards, framing the exercise as a civic duty with tangible political and social benefits.
The mobilisation push in Kisumu is designed to connect culture and politics.
For her, integrating music, talent showcases, and civic education, her campaign seeks to make registration relevant and appealing to young people, demonstrating that political engagement can coexist with cultural celebration.
"We will work with entertainers and not only Indah but the rest, too, who can pull huge crowds like him," said Buyu as they target young unregistered voters in Kisumu West and the whole Nyanza by extension.
The strategy reflects an understanding that enthusiasm alone is insufficient; converting cultural participation into formal voter registration is essential for shaping democratic outcomes.
Mr Victor Otieno, a Kisumu West resident analyst in the informal Bunge la Wananchi, notes that Nyanza has historically been an ODM stronghold, with strong voter turnout among registered residents.
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However, Mr Otieno noted that the persistent under-registration of young people means a growing demographic remains politically underrepresented.
IEBC data indicates that across Nyanza, well over a million adults have yet to obtain national identity cards or register as voters.
In Kisumu County, despite progress, thousands of eligible youths remain off the register, underscoring the importance of targeted mobilisation campaigns.
Buyu emphasised that voter registration is not only about participation in elections but also about gaining influence in governance and development decisions.
“If you want to be part of the decisions that shape your community, if you want your concerns to be heard and addressed, you must have an ID and a voter card,” she said.
She urged young people to move beyond passive engagement on social media or through protests and instead translate political interest into formal, measurable influence.
The combined efforts of Buyu in Kisumu and Wanga across Nyanza are expected to significantly expand the region’s electoral base.
Mobilising youth to register as voters could transform the political landscape, giving young people collective bargaining power in shaping party nominations, resource distribution, and policy priorities.
Observers say that success will hinge on the ability to convert enthusiasm into tangible voter registration numbers, ensuring that youth representation in Nyanza’s political processes reflects their demographic strength.
As the 2027 general election approaches, the campaign highlights a critical reality: the youth are no longer a peripheral political constituency but a demographic with the potential to influence outcomes decisively.
In combining cultural engagement, civic education, and party mobilisation, Buyu and Wanga are attempting to harness this potential, turning the energy and numbers of Nyanza’s young population into formal political influence.
The Chulaimbo celebration exemplified this strategy, blending performances and political messaging to reach young audiences in ways that resonate culturally and socially.
Thousands of youths cheered, danced, and engaged directly with Buyu’s message, signalling a receptive audience for her mobilisation drive.
If this enthusiasm translates into voter registration and active participation, Kisumu County and Nyanza at large could see a dramatic reshaping of the electoral landscape, with young people wielding influence commensurate with their numbers.
For Buyu, the message is clear: political empowerment begins with documentation and registration, and the youth who act now will have the leverage to shape governance, accountability, and development in Kisumu and across Nyanza for years to come.
