By Alex Maina
On 10th April, a youth civic engagement forum was held at Eka Hotel. The meeting brought together young people from different areas to openly talk about politics and why many of them feel disconnected from political parties. The forum was supported by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
From the beginning, the mood in the room was honest and reflective. Many young people said they only see political parties during elections, and after that, they feel forgotten.
Daniel Kipchirchir was among the first to speak.
“To be honest, political parties feel irrelevant to us. We only see them when they need votes. After that, nothing changes for us.”
His words created a quiet moment in the room because many people felt the same way.
Mr. Dennis Okoth, a member of Kilimani BUDA CBO, followed. He did not speak like someone who had all the answers. Instead, he spoke as someone who was also learning.
“I used to feel the same,” he said. “I also thought political parties were far from us. But I am beginning to see something different.”
He explained that being partyless means staying outside spaces where decisions are made.
“When you are outside political parties, you only see the results of decisions. You do not see how those decisions are made,” Dennis said.
He went on to explain something simple that many youths had never considered attachments.
“One of the ways to start is through attachment. You go to political party offices, ask to volunteer, attend meetings, and slowly you learn how the system works from inside,” he added.
As Dennis spoke, the energy in the room changed. Some youths leaned forward, interested in this idea of starting small and learning from within.
Then the special guest, Mr. John Cox Lorionokou, the Registrar of Political Parties, addressed the youth. His message was calm but direct.
“You must see the difference between being inside and outside political parties,” he said. “When you are outside, you only complain after decisions are made. When you are inside, you become part of those decisions.”
He urged the youth to take responsibility for their future by joining political parties, participating in meetings, and engaging actively in leadership structures.
“Young people must not remain party-less. Register. Participate. Be part of the process that shapes your future,” he said.
His words brought a serious silence across the room.
As the discussion continued, many youths began to reflect deeply. What they had seen as distance now felt like exclusion. What they had called “irrelevance” now felt like a missed opportunity.
By the end of the meeting on 10th April, the message from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties was clear and simple.
Being partyless is not just being neutral, it is being absent from the spaces where decisions about your life are made. And the only way to change that is to step inside, participate, and take charge of your future.
