Eldoret: Youth leaders in Uasin Gishu County have been encouraged to belong to political parties and take part in political processes in order to agitate for their rights in leadership. The call was made during the Electoral Preparedness training for youth leaders organized by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), held at Rift Valley Technical Training Institute (RVTTI) in Eldoret.
According to Kenya News Agency, ORPP regional Coordinator of the North Rift region, Hassan Maloba, emphasized the importance of youth participation in political processes. He stated that the training aims to educate youth from Uasin County on election preparedness, highlighting the need for them to join political parties to effectively advocate for their issues. Maloba urged political parties to be inclusive and empower youth by providing leadership positions within the parties.
Maloba reiterated ORPP’s commitment to including youth in their programmes to ensure they are informed and capable of fully participating in electoral processes. He encouraged youth to familiarize themselves with political party constitutions and relevant laws to minimize conflicts and disagreements.
He also cautioned youths against engaging in political malpractices such as violence and goonism, urging them to embrace responsible and progressive politics. Maloba stressed the importance of understanding political party constitutions to help minimize problems in case of disagreements.
IEBC Returning Officer for Kesses Constituency, Mathew Chenger, commended the ORPP forum for sensitizing youth about IEBC activities. He noted that youth are a key demographic targeted for voter registration and praised recent youth-led initiatives like the Niko Kadi campaign for mobilizing Kenyans to register as voters.
The event brought together youths, mainly students from higher learning institutions, aspiring political candidates, and representatives of development groups from the region. The training covered key topics such as active participation in political processes, political malpractices, leveraging digital technology for electoral integrity, and emerging trends in electoral management.
Chenger emphasized ongoing voter registration at IEBC offices and encouraged eligible youths to register. He assured participants of the commission’s commitment to conducting free, fair, transparent, and verifiable elections.
Youth leaders at the event praised the ORPP and IEBC for organizing the training, citing it as a valuable opportunity to understand political party operations and electoral processes. They expressed that the knowledge gained would aid in their preparations for contesting elective positions in the upcoming general election.
Mercy Machichim, a participant, highlighted the often-overlooked role of youth in political parties despite their contributions. Dancan Ochieng, another youth leader, stressed combating misinformation, particularly on social media, and urged peers to verify information before sharing to prevent serious consequences.
