By Kepher Otieno - Reporter
Kenya, 8 December 2025 - A striking political shift is emerging from universities and polytechnics in western Kenya as tertiary students declared on Monday that they will no longer allow themselves to be deployed as instruments in elite-driven political contests ahead of the 2027 general election.
Their message, delivered through Maseno University Students Union President Victor Otieno, reflects a growing sense of disillusionment with how youth have historically been mobilised to fuel street protests and heighten political tension.
Speaking boldly, Otieno stated: “We will not go to the streets again to be used by political elites for selfish gains.”
His words encapsulate a broader sentiment among students who increasingly view their involvement in past episodes of political agitation as manipulative and destructive rather than empowering.
This shift suggests that young people, long considered the muscle behind street demonstrations, may be redefining their political identity and refusing to serve as disposable agents of confrontation.
Their rejection of street-based mobilisation comes at a moment when the country is preparing for an election cycle often marked by heightened rhetoric, protests, and attempts by rival camps to demonstrate public strength through mass action. With students opting out, the political calculus for 2027 could change significantly, particularly in regions where university populations have historically been central to organising and sustaining demonstrations.
Beyond distancing themselves from protests, the students issued a substantive call to the government: the full implementation of the NADCO report.
Their demand signals a pivot from reactive politics to an insistence on structural reforms, suggesting they now prefer institutional solutions over street disruptions.
By urging the government to act on the report’s recommendations, they are positioning themselves as a constituency seeking accountability, stability, and long-term governance reforms rather than immediate spectacles of confrontation.
Their stance represents a maturing of youth political engagement, rooted in a desire for constructive participation rather than being used as catalysts for chaos.
In a further political twist, the students reaffirmed their support for the cooperation between President William Ruto and senior Nyanza political figure Oburu Oginga—an alignment that has been gaining traction as part of broader efforts to reduce regional antagonism ahead of 2027.
According to the students, their backing is driven not by partisan allegiance but by a commitment to “what will ensure peace and tranquility and stability of the people of Kenya.”
By endorsing this rapprochement, they signal a willingness to support political configurations they believe can guarantee national calm, even if those alliances cut across traditional political divisions.
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This reflects a youth constituency increasingly motivated by stability, opportunity, and development rather than by the cyclical animosities that have long defined Kenyan electoral politics.
The implications of this repositioning are significant.
If university students—often the most mobilisable and politically expressive segment of the youth—withdraw from street activism, political actors may find it harder to generate the kind of visible public pressure that has previously influenced national debates.
Their withdrawal could de-escalate the confrontational tone that typically intensifies toward an election year.
At the same time, their shift toward policy-driven engagement places new pressure on the government to deliver reforms that address economic challenges, governance deficits, and institutional grievances affecting young people.
This development may also reshape campaign strategies ahead of 2027.
Political groups that have relied on youthful spontaneity and protest energy may now be forced to adopt more issues-based approaches to appeal to a demographic that is increasingly resistant to manipulation.
The students’ support for broad-based political cooperation further reinforces the perception that the youth may prioritise national stability over divisive contestation in the coming electoral cycle.
Ultimately, the students’ declaration marks an important moment in Kenya’s evolving political culture.
Their refusal to be “used” signals a growing political sophistication and a desire to reframe their role from instruments of agitation to agents of constructive national dialogue.
Whether this shift endures into the 2027 election will depend on how political leaders respond—whether they choose to engage youth as partners in governance or attempt to revert to old tactics of exploitation.
For now, however, the message from campus grounds is unmistakable: Kenya’s young people are choosing peace, policy, and stability over the politics of the streets.
