- Who is Andrew Muoki?
Andrew Muoki is a political scientist, working in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party as a Media Monitoring Officer.
- Are you an aspirant in the 2027 General Elections?
No, I am not vying for any position in the upcoming elections. The reason being that I am still in school, and I strongly believe that my current position gives me the time, opportunity and platform to learn from some of the best leaders in my party, including the President. Through this experience, I will gain the knowledge and exposure necessary to make informed leadership decisions in the future on the right trajectory in politics.
- What do you believe has led to the failure of youth movements since 2024 and what should be done moving forward to make them impactful?
I played no significant role in the movement. To some extent, the Gen Z movement achieved notable successes, albeit with failure as well. The youth managed to achieve some of their objectives, even as some lost their lives in the struggle.
Among the achievements was the withdrawal of the controversial Finance Bill, which had become central to the protests. The cabinet reshuffle initiated by the President was also seen by many as a win for the movement. However, as time went on, the movement was infiltrated by political figures and gradually lost the authenticity and organic nature that had initially defined it.
Going forward, the youth need to adopt a more organized, united and visionary approach, while remaining focused and not being easily swayed by emerging trends.
- In your view, are the youth focused on revenge voting than transformative voting?
The youth today seem more focused on revenge voting than transformative voting.
From my interactions with many young people, most are paying more attention to negative and trending political narratives than to the development projects being carried out by the current leadership. This creates a weak foundation on which they’ll want vote not because of a leader’s vision or policies, but out of frustration and the desire to punish those in power.
- Which political party do the youth appear to be inclined towards and how does it support youth inclusion?
Based on my current observations, a significant number of the youth are not inclined to any political party whereas a small section with political awakening have joined mainstream political parties such as UDA, WIPER, UGM etc., though a large number remains partyless.
The UDA Party, has supported the youth and and will continue to do so ahead of the upcoming elections through guidance, mentorship, subsidized nomination fees, youth town halls and the active involvement of young people in party activities such as grassroots elections and party primaries.
- Has the government done enough to address the plight of the youth since the protests?
Yes, the government has taken significant steps to address some of the concerns raised by young people during the protests. These include empowerment initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Programme, the Climate WorX initiative, and NYOTA, which have created job opportunities for unemployed youth. Additionally, reforms to the education funding model have made it more inclusive and more responsive to students’ needs.
- If the above is true, why is there a growing hostility among the youth towards the government?
The aggression witnessed among the youth towards the government is as a result of infiltration by the political class to use them as a vulnerable lot to advance their interests, it is not an organic aggression.
- Have you received insults from the fellow youth for your alignment to the government?
As a youth within the government, I receive both positive and negative reactions from the youth, some perceive me as a carrier of their vision while others see me as a betrayer who chose to side with the government over their movement.
They claim that I was “bought” by the government and that I have money.
- In your view will the 2027 elections be a defining moment for the youth in 2027?
2027 is a defining moment only for the organized youth within political parties and not the larger confused lot focusing on trends and revenge politics. For the youth to win and make the change they want in 2027 election they need to get organized under a common ideology that is youth driven, youth centered, one with a national outlook and one that lacks elitism. Through this they will be able to command a unified vote from the urban to the rural areas.
