Training in Kenya: Multi-stakeholder Engagement on Youth and Elections

On 25-27 August 2026, the European Exchange and the EPDE, together with its local partner the Election Observation Group (ELOG), brought together ELOG’s member network and partner organizations for a three-day training on meaningful youth participation in Kenya’s electoral process.

The training brought together representatives of youth-focused and election-related civil society organisations to reflect on:

🔹 What meaningful youth participation in elections looks like
🔹 The barriers that prevent young people from engaging in electoral processes
🔹 Democratic standards and youth participation
🔹 Strategies for engaging young people beyond simply casting a ballot
🔹 How civil society can strengthen youth involvement in election observation and broader electoral processes

Participants identified and analyzed challenges for youth participation in Kenya, deepened their understanding of democratic elections and participation, and reflected on the broad set of roles youth can play as election observers and as questioners of processes — a voice that civil society organizations should be building platforms for.

Another focus was on election observation throughout the election cycle and its role as an early warning system for issues increasingly shaping electoral environments around the world, including election technology, political finance, disinformation, data protection, and the use of artificial intelligence.

The training concluded with a shared focus on turning evidence into action: using observation findings to inform advocacy and contribute to more inclusive, credible, and youth-responsive elections in Kenya.

A big thank you to election expert Holly Ruthrauff and youth engagement expert Nina Gogoladze, who facilitated the training.

The event was funded by the European Union and is part of the WYDE project.