What You Need to Know
In Kirinyaga, the IEBC has adopted music and dance to engage Gen Z voters during the ongoing mass voter registration for the 2027 elections. This innovative approach has successfully increased youth turnout, transforming registration centers into lively social spaces. The initiative aims to address low registration rates among younger voters, who historically participate less in elections.
Africa-Press – Kenya. Officials from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) in Kirinyaga county have turned to music and dance as an innovative strategy to attract Gen Z voters.
This was employed as the commission kicked off its mass voter registration drive countrywide ahead of the 2027 general election.
At registration centres such as those in Ndia constituency, upbeat urban tunes filled the air on Monday, creating an energetic atmosphere that drew young people in large numbers.
What would ordinarily be a routine civic exercise transformed into a lively social scene, with youth dancing in queues, nodding along during the registration process, and celebrating once they completed the exercise.
The approach appears to be working as the officials reported a noticeable surge in turnout shortly after the music was introduced. Groups of young people who had completed registration stayed behind to dance with those still in line, turning the centres into vibrant spaces that blended civic duty with entertainment.
Trending urban and TikTok hits dominated playlists, carefully curated to resonate with Gen Z audiences.
The music-driven mobilisation comes against the backdrop of concerns over low youth registration. Commissioner Alutalala Mukhwana said the number of registered Gen Z voters remains significantly lower compared to older age groups.
“We have registered 250,391 voters so far, with 50.9 per cent being male and 49.1 per cent female. Those above 35 years account for 67.35 per cent, while those below 35 years make up only 32 per cent,” Mukhwana said, highlighting the imbalance that has prompted targeted mobilisation efforts.
By tapping into youth culture, IEBC officials hope to reverse this trend and increase participation among younger voters, who form a critical segment of the electorate but have historically shown lower registration rates.
The initiative also aligns with broader national targets set by IEBC leadership. Chairperson Erastus Ethekon recently announced that the commission aims to register up to 6.3 million voters ahead of the 2027 polls.
Registration exercise in Kirinyaga county on March 30 /SCREENGRAB
Of these, approximately 2.5 million are expected to be new voters captured during the ongoing Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) exercise.
“We have a huge task ahead, starting with the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration launched on March 30, 2026,” Ethekon said.
He said the new strategy is informed by lessons learnt from previous Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercises. Key improvements include decentralising services to the ward level, targeting institutions of higher learning and using data-driven approaches to allocate resources more effectively.
“We are bringing services closer to the people and specifically targeting the youth to ensure inclusivity in the electoral process,” Ethekon said.
At the ground level in Kirinyaga, the impact of these strategies is already evident. Young voters expressed enthusiasm not only about the music-driven environment but also about their role in shaping the country’s future.
One Gen Z voter who had just registered said the turnout reflects a growing awareness among young people about the importance of participating in governance.
“Today we have come out in large numbers as Gen Zs to register as voters because we want to change bad governance in our country,” the voter said. “We cannot keep waiting for older generations to make decisions for us. For now, Tuko Kadi.”
The phrase, which has gained traction among Kenyan youth, has become a rallying call encouraging young people to register as voters and actively participate in elections.
As the mass registration exercise continues, IEBC officials are likely to replicate similar youth-focused engagement strategies in other counties. Whether through music, social media or campus outreach, the commission is increasingly recognising that connecting with Gen Z requires meeting them where they are both culturally and socially.
If the scenes in Kirinyaga are any indication, the fusion of civic engagement and entertainment may prove to be a powerful tool in shaping the country’s electoral future.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has faced challenges in engaging younger voters, particularly Gen Z, who often show lower registration rates compared to older demographics. In response, the IEBC has implemented various strategies to enhance voter participation, including the Enhanced Continuous Voter Registration (ECVR) initiative launched in 2026. This initiative aims to register millions of new voters, focusing on youth engagement through culturally relevant methods such as music and social media outreach.
