Skip to main content

BBI Would Have Opened the Door for Gen Z Leadership, Says Jeremiah Kioni

By Ahmed Salat Ali | Political Affairs | AARAN TV KE 

Jeremiah Kioni, the Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party, has argued that the now-defunct Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) could have significantly expanded political opportunities for young Kenyans, particularly members of Generation Z seeking leadership roles in national governance.

Speaking during an interview with a local radio station on Thursday, April 2, 2026, Kioni said the current governance structure remains rigid and often unaccommodating to young leaders who aspire to hold substantive political office rather than merely supporting established political figures.

According to Kioni, the constitutional reforms proposed under the BBI framework were designed to broaden the country’s leadership structure and create more pathways for emerging leaders.

“I keep going back to that document called the BBI. It was opening the space. If we had passed it in 2021 or before the 2022 elections, it would have been much easier for a Gen Z person to get into power today,” Kioni said.

He noted that the proposed changes, including the expansion of executive positions, would have allowed younger leaders to negotiate for senior government roles.

“They would have been able to bargain for a proper seat and say we want the Deputy Prime Minister’s position or even the Deputy President’s position,” he added.

Youth Still Treated as Political Foot Soldiers

Kioni further criticised the traditional political class, saying young people are often viewed merely as campaign mobilisers and voters rather than capable leaders.

He argued that the country’s current governance system does little to accommodate youthful leadership.

“The unfortunate thing about our politics and governance structure is that it doesn’t quite open itself up to the youth barging into leadership. Instead, they are often channelled into supporting a cause rather than leading it,” Kioni stated.

His remarks come at a time when youth-led political activism has intensified across the country, with young Kenyans rallying around civic campaigns such as “Niko Kadi” and “Tuko Kadi”, which encourage eligible citizens to register as voters.

IEBC Targets Millions of New Voters

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has intensified preparations for the 2027 General Election through an ongoing voter registration exercise.

The commission confirmed that Continuous Voter Registration (CVR), which began in September 2025, will be complemented by an Enhanced Mass Voter Registration programme expected to reach the ward level from March 2026.

Electoral officials say the initiative includes system upgrades and pre-registration reforms aimed at reducing congestion at registration centres while improving the overall voter registration experience, particularly for young people and first-time voters.

The voter registration campaign is expected to play a decisive role in shaping the 2027 political landscape. The IEBC estimates that about 6.3 million new voters could be added to the national register ahead of the next general election.

Currently, an estimated 12 million Kenyans possess National identity cards but remain unregistered as voters, making them a crucial battleground for both the government and opposition political camps.

Political analysts note that the emerging youth-driven mobilisation efforts could significantly influence the outcome of the next election as leaders across the political divide intensify efforts to attract first-time voters into their support bases.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Hassan Mohamud Clan Endorses Prof. Mohamed Yussuf Elmi “Nyanurey” for Wajir West MP Race

By Ahmed Salat Ali | Political Affairs Reporter, AARAN TV KE  With less than two years remaining before the 2027 General Election, political temperatures in Wajir West are steadily rising following the official endorsement of Prof. Mohamed Yussuf Elmi, popularly known as “Nyanyuray,” by the influential Hassan Mohamud sub-clan of the larger Rerow Mohamud community. The highly attended endorsement ceremony, marked by pomp, colour and jubilation, brought together respected elders, religious leaders, women, youth groups and community stakeholders from across the region. The gathering followed months of consultations, family retreats and extensive deliberations within the community before unanimously settling on Prof. Elmi as their preferred candidate for the Wajir West parliamentary seat in 2027. Speakers at the event described Prof. Elmi as a seasoned leader with vast experience, strong academic credentials and a deep understanding of the region’s development challenges. “The communit...
Post a Comment
Read more

Road Projects Signal New Dawn for Wajir as Shs.30 Billion Infrastructure Plan Takes Shape

By Ahmed Salat Ali | AARAN TV KE Political Affairs  WAJIR- A sweeping infrastructure plan targeting key road networks across Wajir County is poised to transform the region’s economic landscape, raising fresh hopes of long-awaited development in one of Kenya’s historically marginalized counties. Documents from the Ministry of Roads and Transport and road agencies outline a series of proposed and priority road upgrades aimed at improving connectivity within Wajir and linking the county to major transport corridors. The plan comes as preparations intensify for the national Madaraka Day celebrations scheduled to be hosted in Wajir in 2026. According to an official communication from the State Department of Roads, the government has directed key implementing agencies — including the Kenya National Highways Authority, Kenya Urban Roads Authority, Kenya Rural Roads Authority, and the Kenya Roads Board — to fast-track several projects considered critical to the county’s infrastructure gro...
Post a Comment
Read more

Basir Security Centre Row Sparks Debate as Eldas MP Defends Project

By Ahmed Salat Ali | Political Affairs | AARAN TV KE  Aden Keynan has broken his silence on the controversial Basir Multi-Agency Centre, strongly defending the project as a critical national security intervention and warning leaders against politicizing matters touching on public safety and regional stability. In a strongly worded statement, the Eldas legislator said he had deliberately refrained from commenting on the matter for a long period out of respect for the sensitivity of Kenya’s security architecture. However, he noted that growing misinformation and inflammatory narratives surrounding the proposed facility had compelled him to clarify the facts. “Security remains a sacred constitutional mandate of the National Government, entrusted with safeguarding lives, protecting borders and preserving the stability of our Republic,” Keynan stated. The MP described the Ethiopia–Moyale–Basir–Arbajan–Isiolo corridor as one of the major transit routes for transnational organized crime, ...
Post a Comment
Read more