Africa report
Elections in Kenya: in Nairobi, disillusioned youth facing the elections [1/5]
Audio 02:13
A café-debate organized in an association center for young people in Mukuru, a slum located in the east of Nairobi, by the association Mukuru Youth Initiative.
© Albane Thirouard / RFI
By: Albane Thirouard
3 mins
On 9th August next Kenyans are being called to ballot to elect their new president and a new Parliament.
How are they approaching this deadline?
What are their expectations ?
In Nairobi, where young people shun politics, an association in Mukuru, a slum in the east of the capital, tries to mobilize young people and organizes coffee-debates every Tuesday.
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From our correspondent in Nairobi,
About twenty young people gathered in the premises of this association in Mukuru.
On the agenda for discussion: the August 9 elections.
Julius moderates the debate: “
How many of you think that your vote counts
?
No one raises their hand… In Nairobi, only 39.84% of 18-35 year olds are registered to vote.
A drop of 5.27% compared to the 2017 election, according to the electoral commission.
Here, barely half of the participants intend to go to the polls on August 9.
Daisy Abwao is one of them.
At 25, she will vote for the second time.
"
It's a civic duty
!"
You can't change the situation if you stay at home, you won't make a difference,
she argues.
While a vote can tip the balance and serve to elect the leaders who will bring change to our country.
»
A majority mistrust among young people
In the room with the colored walls, concerns abound: rising cost of living, corruption or doubts about the electoral process… There is no shortage of reasons to justify a weariness of politics.
Evans Iteno is old enough to vote for the first time, but this young dancer part-time, rabbit breeder the other half, is not convinced.
“
If their priority was that we could eat our fill, then maybe I would consider going to vote.
But no matter how good their agenda looks, politicians always end up sacrificing us,
he laments
.
They come to see us, give us money and leave without fulfilling their promises.
»
A few seats further, dressed in a colorful t-shirt, Ben Omutiti does not hide his distrust of politicians: “
The majority of candidates are corrupt or have trials in progress.
A minority have integrity, but their chances of winning are slim because they have no money for their campaign.
And in Kenya, without money, you don't win.
Just today, a candidate for governor of Nairobi came to the neighborhood without handing out any money, residents called to vote for his competitor.
»
At 20, Ben is looking for a job, like many in the room.
“
Most of these young people have finished high school, but they are stuck at home.
They are looking for work and cannot afford to go to university,
reports Nelson Munyiri, founder of the association that organizes the café-debates.
The majority of those we see going to political meetings do not go there to listen to the candidates, but for what we will give them in exchange.
There is a real loss of hope in the political system.
»
After two hours of discussion, and several cups of coffee, the undecided do not seem more convinced.
The host worries about it.
He concludes: “
The future of this country will be decided by the over 35s
”.
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