By Jameson Mutua
The United Opposition has praised last year’s youth-led protests, calling them a bold and peaceful “moral revolt against greed, corruption, and injustice.”
Speaking during the State of the Nation address at the SKM Command Centre on Thursday, Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the Gen Z uprising marked a historic moment of civic courage.
“Today, we recognize one such moment, the Gen Z uprising, a peaceful movement born of desperation and not of violence… a moral clarity rooted firmly in the Constitution of Kenya,” the statement read.
Kalonzo, addressing the nation on behalf of the United Opposition coalition, which includes the Wiper Patriotic Front, the Democratic Coalition Party (DCP), the People’s Liberation Party, DAP K and others, praised the youth for rejecting what the coalition termed Rutopreneurship, the mismanagement of healthcare through SHA SHIF, the scam of the Housing Levy, and the betrayal of Vision 2030.
He reaffirmed the coalition’s alignment with the demands of young Kenyans, saying transparency, accountability and dignity must form the minimum standards of leadership.
Concerns Over IEBC Credibility
Turning to electoral matters, the coalition expressed deep concern over the credibility of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), arguing that the appointment of the new commissioners violated the spirit of the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) recommendations.
“An election does not need cheating on voting day to be stolen. It can be stolen quietly, in the shadows, during registration, where oversight is weakest,” the coalition warned.
Six Key Concerns on Voter Registration
The United Opposition outlined six urgent issues requiring immediate and transparent action from the IEBC. These include:
Mandatory iris scanning which was introduced without public consultation, creating a dual voter register and raising fairness concerns.
Restricted registration hours and venues, currently limited to constituency offices during weekday working hours, which the coalition said discriminate against workers, students and young people. The coalition demanded registration at the ward level seven days a week.
Lack of transparency on the deployment, unique identifiers and locations of all voter registration kits.
Unclear data safeguards, with the IEBC urged to clarify what data is being collected and to implement strict quality controls including independent audits when registration closes.
Strict adherence to written applications from voters and proper verification of residency before approving voter transfer requests.
Publication of a complete list of all staff involved in the voter registration process, including their roles and responsibilities, to build public trust.
Condemnation of Electoral Misconduct
The coalition also condemned the brazen attack on the soul of Kenya’s democracy, citing rampant voter bribery and the misuse of state resources.
According to the Opposition, a rogue regime has been directing voters to photograph their marked ballots inside polling stations in exchange for payments of not less than Sh5,000. The coalition said this practice violates the secrecy of the ballot and must attract punishment. They urged the IEBC to intensify voter education to curb the vice.
The coalition further accused senior public officials including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi of using state resources to influence by-elections, warning that such conduct erodes public trust and undermines electoral fairness.
