Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has urged young Kenyans to make time for voter registration before turning to their favourite weekend pastime — watching English Premier League (EPL) matches.
In a message shared on X (formerly Twitter) on Saturday, October 4, 2025, the youthful lawmaker called on Nairobi youth to visit IEBC constituency offices before heading out to enjoy football.
“Hao wadosi wanasema ati sisi youths huongea tu kwa mtandao but we can’t register as voters. Leo before tuwatch EPL matches, tupitie at any IEBC constituency office in Nairobi, and we register in masses,” he wrote.
Babu dismissed the notion that young people are only active on social media but shy away from real political participation. He encouraged them to turn their online energy into action by taking part in the registration exercise.
Youth Mobilisation
The MP said the move is part of a broader plan to strengthen youth involvement in leadership and governance. According to him, registering as a voter is the first step toward creating the kind of change young people often demand online.
His latest message builds on recent efforts to rally Nairobi residents to register or transfer their votes. On Friday, October 3, he took to Facebook urging locals to take advantage of the ongoing IEBC exercise, reminding them that transformation begins with owning a voter’s card.
Babu, who has hinted at running for the Nairobi governor’s seat in 2027, has been using his social media pages to encourage voter mobilisation, especially among first-time voters.
IEBC Drive and National Outlook
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) is currently conducting continuous voter registration across the country, targeting 6.3 million new voters. This comes after about 8 million eligible Kenyans failed to vote in the 2022 General Election.
Data from the IEBC shows that Nairobi County has recorded the highest number of new registrations over the past few days, thanks to heightened mobilisation by local leaders.
Youth Power in 2027
Political players are increasingly focusing on young people as the 2027 elections draw nearer. On October 3, Agano Party Secretary General Pessa Odanga described youth as a decisive bloc, estimating their combined voting power at more than 13 million.
Former Chief Justice David Maraga has also launched a campaign to register five million new voters, while former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i has voiced concern over delays in the issuance of national ID cards, a requirement for registration.
Turning Energy into Action
Babu Owino’s latest call reflects a growing effort among leaders to connect civic duty with the everyday lives of young people. By linking voter registration to EPL match days, he hopes to make the process relatable and appealing.
“Change doesn’t just happen online,” he said in an earlier post. “It starts when we take the first step — registering to vote.”
