The percentage of the young adult electorate (18-29 year olds) that have voted in the US elections in the past 5 elections since the year 2000 has averaged 48 according to Tufts University’s Center for Information and Research on Civic Learning and Engagement (CIRCLE) and Brookings’ Governance Studies. This number was only highest in 2008 election of President Barack Obama.

During this period of study (2000 – 2016), on Election Day, Hillary Clinton won the youth vote (55 percent) while Donald Trump only garnered the support of 37 percent of the millennial electorate. Comparatively, in 2012, young adults voted for Barack Obama over Mitt Romney by 60 percent to 37 percent.

In my past blog, “ElectionsKE2017 – Lessons from Brexit”, It is estimated that majority (64%) of the younger generation (18-24 years) voted to stay in the EU block against 45% in the 25-49 years, 35% in the 50-64 years and 33% in the 65+ age bracket. This is according to an opinion poll by YouGov.co.uk. My interpretation of this opinion poll was that the younger generation (millennials and gen-Ys) are geography agnostic as theirs is a globally connected world where opportunity defines their citizenship.

An Examination of Youth Participation in South Africa’s Local Government Elections, a study done by Lindokuhle Mandyoli of the University of Western Cape, paints a grim statistic of the voting pattern of youth in Africa. Even though majority of the population is youthful, the participation by the youth (ages 18 – 29) in the elections was very dismal. In 2011, only 50.6% of the registered youth turned out to vote. A similar trend is observed in 2014 and 2016 with a participation of 58% and 53% respectively.

The sample may be questioned. That is fine. You may ask, what is the statistic for Kenya? Until we fully adopt the Biometric Voter Registration and Voting, we cannot accurately tell the demographics around Kenyan elections.

Nonetheless, year 2015 data from the Independent Elections and Boundaries Commission of Kenya (IEBC) indicate that only about 57% of the eligible youth were registered during the last registration drive prior to the 2013 presidential elections.

So what constitutes this apathy amongst the youth in Elections? Is it a low confidence in the electoral process to make them think that their vote does not count? Is it a mistrust in political leadership? Is it limited understanding of party politics? Never mind that a minority of the young people belong to political parties in Kenya. Is it a matter of social inclusion where the young people are not allowed to participate in electoral process especially the women due to some cultural practices? Is it due to voter malpractice (bribery, violence rigging) that deters active participation?

My son, despite all these, I beseech you to come out on Tuesday 8 August 2017 and vote for your preferred candidate. Choose a candidate whom you think has your best interest at heart. Do not let somebody sway to you vote for him at the morsel of bread. Your vote is valuable, your vote counts. Come out and be counted!