A renewed effort to rebuild youth leadership structures in Kenya has been set in motion, with officials confirming that National Youth Council elections will finally take place through a structured national process beginning in July 2026 after years of delay.
In a gazette notice released on Friday, April 17, 2026, Sports and Youth Affairs Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya laid out a clear timetable that will guide the long-awaited selection of youth representatives through a phased electoral exercise across the country.
“It is notified to the general public that the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs and Sports has appointed Members of the National Steering Committee for the National Youth Council Elections,” read the gazette notice in part.
The voting process will start at ward level on July 5, 2026, before moving to constituency elections scheduled for July 16, 2026. The exercise will then conclude with the National Youth Congress elections set for July 27, 2026.
The elections will be conducted under the National Youth Council Act, which provides the legal structure for selecting youth representatives at different administrative levels.
To guide the process, a National Steering Committee has been appointed to oversee planning, coordination, and delivery of the elections from start to finish.
The committee will be chaired by George Marcel Osaro, with members including Mohammed Barre, Beverly Anyona, Mary Mbugua, Mukomoni Osero, Wilkistar Oluoch, Gideon Balang, Juma Salim Shibe, Ken Koech, Debora Malwa Mackazi, Elijah Kalama Kafani, Hellen Tuwei, and Sophy Nekoye Walialua.
Its responsibilities include managing the entire election process, resolving disputes, verifying nominations, and ensuring compliance with set rules and procedures.
The team will also supervise digital systems for voter registration, voting, and transmission of results, while safeguarding data integrity and system security throughout the exercise.
Young people have been encouraged to take note of the schedule and actively participate in the elections, which are expected to restore structured youth representation across the country.
The last time the National Youth Council held elections was in 2012, leaving a gap of more than a decade without fresh leadership selection. The delay had raised concern among youth groups who felt the absence of elections weakened accountability and effective representation.