The findings have sparked debate within government circles, opposition parties and civic groups, all scrambling to understand how a generation that shook the system now risks abandoning the vote.
The conversation gained momentum after a widely shared NTV clip showed analysts breaking down why young people are drifting away from formal politics, with the link spreading rapidly across social platforms.
A separate report by Odipo Dev, also circulating online through this link, deepened the debate as it detailed the apathy expected in the coming by-elections.
Many Gen Zs say political leaders—whether allied to the commander in chief or opposition formations, rarely deliver on promises once elected.
Others argue that institutions feel too distant, too slow and too compromised to reflect their voice. Even the rise of new players like the Democracy for Citizens Party has not fully restored confidence.
Analysts point to the July protests, noting how Gen Z mobilized millions without politicians, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former CS Moses Kuria, interior CS Murkomen, CS Treasury John Mbadi or any traditional power structure guiding them.
That leaderless momentum, they say, created a generation that prefers direct action over ballot queues.
Some youths interviewed in the study described voting as a ritual that benefits the political class, from governors to MPs, while leaving ordinary Kenyans stuck with high taxes, unemployment and broken promises.
Their biggest question remains whether casting a vote changes anything when the same leaders rotate within government every cycle.
With several by-elections coming and 2027 already shaping up to be a major showdown, the warning is clear: unless political players radically shift how they engage the youth, the ballot may be missing the very generation that shook the country into reform.
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