Wilson Sossion Calls for Lowering Kenya’s Voting Age to 16

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Wilson Sossion Calls for Lowering Kenya’s Voting Age to 16

Former Kenya National Union of Teachers (KNUT) Secretary General Wilson Sossion has called for sweeping reforms to Kenya’s electoral system, including lowering the voting age to 16 and making voter registration more flexible.

Speaking during a televised interview, Sossion pointed to international examples, saying Kenya could learn from other democracies that empower young people to participate in elections early.

“In the UK, the voting age has been lowered to 16, and in the US, citizens can even register on polling day,” he said.

He praised the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for maintaining integrity over the years, noting, “We have an IEBC that has consistently demonstrated competence and reliability in managing elections.”

Low Registration Numbers Spark Concern

Sossion’s proposal comes amid worryingly low voter registration figures. As of October 2, 2025, only 7,048 new voters had been added to the roll — far below the national target of 6.3 million.

The disparity is especially visible in counties such as Trans Nzoia, where just 71 new voters have registered. Governor George Natembeya expressed dismay at the figure, saying, “Watu ambao wameregister Trans Nzoia mzima kama wapiga kura ni 71; niliona nikatoa machozi,” loosely translating to, “Only 71 people have registered in the entire county; it made me shed tears.”

Youth Participation and Political Impact

Sossion linked the need for electoral reform to the ongoing youth protests, arguing that while activism is valuable, it must translate into political participation. “The energy young people put into demonstrations should instead be channeled into registering as voters and influencing leadership through the ballot,” he said.

Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo echoed these sentiments, urging young Kenyans to prioritize voter registration. “Taking part in demonstrations without an ID is a waste of time; real change comes through the ballot,” he said, emphasizing the need for efficient issuance of national identity cards.

He added, “The way youths organised themselves for maandamano is the same spirit they should apply in mobilizing for voter registration.”

Call for Political Unity and Educational Accountability

Sossion also challenged political movements to focus on unifying agendas rather than division. “Any political grouping must have a clear national agenda that inspires hope and unity among Kenyans,” he said, criticizing sections of the opposition for, in his words, “promoting hatred for President Ruto and greed for power” instead of offering credible alternatives.

He further raised concerns about the state of education infrastructure, lamenting the poor conditions in some schools despite the Constituency Development Fund (CDF) financing most educational projects. “CDF funds 90% of education, so it’s unacceptable that in 2025 we still have dilapidated classrooms. As a country, we must audit our school infrastructure and implement the right interventions to ensure every learner has a quality learning environment,” he concluded.

Also Read: Digital Shift: KNEC Launches New Portal to Track Learners’ Progress in CBC

Wilson Sossion Calls for Lowering Kenya’s Voting Age to 16