National Youth Council CEO Gloria Wawira Says NYC Elections Will Proceed Once Key Electoral Challenges Are Addressed
By Gedion Nzyoki -
Nairobi, Kenya | 06 July 2026 – The Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Council (NYC), Gloria Wawira, has assured Kenyan youth that the postponed National Youth Council elections will still be conducted once the outstanding electoral challenges are addressed, maintaining that the government remains committed to delivering a credible, transparent, and legitimate electoral process.
Speaking on Monday morning outside the Council offices at Absa Towers in Nairobi, Wawira acknowledged that the exercise, which was scheduled to begin on July 5, had been postponed due to logistical challenges but emphasized that the setback was only temporary.
"We have had some challenges. We are doing everything within our power to address those challenges so that young people can have a genuine platform to elect their leaders," she said.
New Election Dates to Be Announced
Wawira revealed that consultations on the electoral timetable are ongoing and that the Office of the Cabinet Secretary will communicate the revised election dates once the process is finalized.
"The elections were supposed to begin yesterday, 5th July. However, they were postponed. We hope that by the end of this week, or within a short time, the Office of the Cabinet Secretary will communicate the new election dates.
The conversation is active and ongoing, and as soon as we have the new dates, we will make them public," she stated.
She stressed that the postponement should not be interpreted as a cancellation of the elections, urging young people to remain patient as the necessary logistical arrangements are finalized.
According to Wawira, the National Youth Council, the State Department for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, and the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports are working together to ensure the elections are conducted successfully.
"We have hit a wall, but we have not stopped. It is a hurdle along the way, but our commitment to Kenya's youth remains unwavering. We are committed to delivering the National Youth Council elections," Wawira said.
Appeal for Patience
Addressing concerns over the repeated delays, Wawira acknowledged the growing frustration among young people but appealed for patience, noting that Cabinet had already approved the elections.
"I understand the fatigue. I am a young person myself, and I understand the frustration among young people who have been asking for these elections. But I want to assure you, in no uncertain terms, that we are doing everything within our power to mobilise the necessary logistics and get this process underway," she added.
She further identified voter education as one of the critical areas requiring greater attention before the elections are held.
Wawira said the Council plans to intensify civic education campaigns, particularly among young women at the grassroots, to encourage wider participation in the electoral process.
"So, young women, do not be afraid. We are here for you," she said.
Youth Leaders Raise Concerns
During the demonstration, some youth leaders questioned the decision to announce election dates before completing voter registration and the registration of aspirants.
National Steering Committee Explains Postponement
On Friday, July 3, the National Steering Committee (NSC) on the National Youth Council Elections announced the postponement of the elections, which had been scheduled to run from July 5 to July 26, 2026, until further notice.
In a statement shared on the council facebook page, the committee said the decision followed consultations with relevant authorities to safeguard the integrity, fairness, and credibility of the electoral process while ensuring compliance with the National Youth Council (Election of Certain Council Members) Regulations, 2021.
The committee said the postponement would provide additional time to complete key preparations, including voter education, voter and candidate registration, the appointment and training of election officials, and the deployment of an election management system.
It reaffirmed its commitment to conducting free, fair, and transparent elections and said the revised election dates would be communicated through the Kenya Gazette and other official government channels once the outstanding requirements have been met.
Youth Hold Peaceful Demonstration
Following the announcement, a section of youth led by Fridah Kemunto staged a peaceful demonstration on Monday morning outside the National Youth Council offices at Absa Towers in Nairobi to express their dissatisfaction with the postponement.
During the protest, Kemunto symbolically swore herself in as the Chairperson of the National Youth Council.
The group issued the Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports with a two-week ultimatum to conduct the elections nationwide, warning that failure to do so would prompt them to mobilize young people for peaceful demonstrations across the country.
The protesters vowed to continue pushing for the National Youth Council elections, insisting that the Ministry of Youth Affairs has kept young people waiting for far too long.
Kemunto said the group is ready to work with the NYC leadership to address the outstanding challenges and ensure the elections are conducted as soon as possible without any further delays.
"If an election can be gazetted and postponed indefinitely, what guarantees do we have that the 2027 General Election will be held as scheduled? The youth are in grief," she said.
The protesters also called for greater transparency, accountability, and the immediate release of a clear electoral roadmap outlining the next steps in the election process.
Commitment to the Electoral Process
Despite the concerns raised by youth leaders, Wawira maintained that the electoral process remains on course and reiterated that the elections will proceed once the identified logistical and administrative challenges have been resolved.
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