NAIROBI, KENYA – Veteran politician and United Opposition spokesman Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi issued a stark warning on Thursday, November 20, 2025, stating that the country's opposition coalition has not yet sufficiently connected with Kenya's politically energized Generation Z. Speaking during a local radio interview, Dr. Kituyi, a former Secretary-General of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), argued that this disconnect is a primary reason the opposition has been slow to formulate a comprehensive manifesto for the 2027 elections.

“As it stands today, the opposition has not sufficiently linked up with Gen Zs, and you can't tell an agenda whose main consumers are going to be Gen Zs without their participation,” Dr. Kituyi stated. His comments highlight a growing concern within Kenya's political landscape: the widening gap between established political entities and a youth demographic that has proven its capacity for independent, large-scale mobilization.

The Gen Z Political Awakening

Dr. Kituyi's remarks come in the wake of a series of youth-led nationwide protests, most notably the anti-Finance Bill demonstrations in mid-2024, which fundamentally altered Kenya's political dynamics. This movement, largely organized organically through social media platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter), saw thousands of young Kenyans take to the streets to protest punitive tax proposals, corruption, and government accountability. The protests were notable for their lack of traditional political leadership, with Gen Z activists explicitly shunning established opposition figures while demonstrating sophisticated organizational and fundraising skills.

The movement transcended ethnic and regional lines that have historically defined Kenyan politics, instead fostering a pan-Kenyan identity focused on constitutional principles and economic justice. According to a July 2025 analysis by the Journal of Democracy, this uprising has awakened a political consciousness that has exposed deep cracks in the country's democratic project and signaled a generational rejection of politics as usual. An Amnesty International report released on November 18, 2025, further detailed the critical role of digital platforms in the protests that occurred between June 2024 and July 2025, while also documenting a coordinated campaign of tech-facilitated suppression by state actors.

A Disjointed Opposition

The entity Dr. Kituyi represents, the "United Opposition," is a relatively new coalition of political figures aiming to present a unified front against President William Ruto's administration in 2027. Dr. Kituyi was appointed its spokesperson and Head of Secretariat in early September 2025. The coalition includes prominent leaders such as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Martha Karua of the People's Liberation Party.

While the opposition has been active—filing a high-stakes petition on November 17, 2025, to make constituency-level presidential results final and presenting a parallel State of the Nation address—Dr. Kituyi's admission suggests internal struggles to align with the national mood. He explained that it is difficult to develop a clear roadmap without first engaging the youth to understand their priorities. This challenge is compounded by a political environment where, as some activists noted in a September 2024 report, the populace itself has assumed the role of the opposition due to a perceived lack of leadership from official channels.

Implications for 2027

The failure to bridge this gap carries significant risks for the opposition. The Gen Z demographic, defined as those born between 1997 and 2012, represents a formidable voting bloc that is educated, tech-savvy, and deeply skeptical of the political elite. Their mobilization during the Finance Bill protests was not just about a single piece of legislation but a broader rejection of a system they feel has failed to provide economic opportunities and secure their future.

Political analysts have noted that while opposition figures offered verbal support during the protests, they were largely sidelined by a movement that does not recognize traditional political leadership. Dr. Kituyi, who has previously praised Gen Z for "reviving hope that there is still a future for Kenya," also warned the youth movement in July 2024 about the risk of being hijacked by political opportunists. His latest comments suggest a recognition that the opposition must earn its place in this new political reality, rather than assume it.

As the country moves closer to the 2027 election cycle, the key challenge for the United Opposition will be to transform from a coalition of established politicians into a movement that genuinely incorporates the aspirations and energy of the youth. Leaders like Kalonzo Musyoka and Rigathi Gachagua have already begun rallying young people to register as voters. However, Dr. Kituyi's candid assessment indicates that mere calls for participation will be insufficient. The opposition must demonstrate a fundamental shift in strategy and policy to prove it is listening to, and not just speaking at, the generation that is actively reshaping Kenyan democracy.