Photojournalist Allan Ademba and activist Willie Oeba are among the youth behind the growing “Niko Kadi” initiative, a youth-led campaign encouraging voter registration across Kenya ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The phrase ‘Niko Kadi’ was launched on March 17, 2026, with the aim of mobilizing at least 600 young people to register as voters. This is about peer‑to‑peer influence and shared purpose.
Across the country, it has become a way for young people to announce that they have registered to vote, holding up their voter cards with pride and tagging friends to do the same.
The sight of long queues of young people patiently waiting to register and film the moment has become a symbol of youthful agency in action.
Activists and youth leaders have been walking groups into Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) centres, helping them complete the registration process.
How Kenyans Have Reacted to the Niko Kadi Movement
Several Kenyans have praised the Niko Kadi initiative as a refreshing wave of youth energy reshaping civic participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kenyan hip-hop star Octopizzo celebrated the fact that young people are showing up in large numbers to register and stake their claim in the nation’s future.
Activist Wanjiru Wanjira, co-founder of the Mathare Social Justice Centre, also directly stressed the shift from street protests to participation at the ballot box through Niko Kadi.
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Wanjiru further engaged with the campaign, using the slogan to mobilize her peers on her social media pages.
Additionally, journalist Janet Mbugua highlighted that Kenya’s youth are shaping national conversations by speaking out online, organizing in their communities, and challenging poor governance.
Janet underscored that voter registration is the first step toward institutional political power, noting that a generation that is registered, informed, and ready to vote becomes an unstoppable force.
She added that the slogan “Je, Uko Kadi?” is more than a phrase; it is a civic challenge, asking every eligible Kenyan to reflect on their readiness to participate in elections and to seize their political voice.
Allan Ademba and Willis Oeba? Gen Z Voices Behind “Niko Kadi” Movement
Allan Ademba is a student journalist who covered the June 25, 2024, Gen Z protests from the front lines.
He became popular after participating in a BBC investigative documentary that exposed how Kenyan security officers were involved in the shooting of innocent protesters in 2024.
In addition to his reporting, Allan played a critical role during the protest by helping to carry the bodies of the fallen and assisting the injured, demonstrating both his commitment to his profession and his sense of duty to his community.
He completed his bachelor’s degree in journalism from Mount Kenya University (MKU), where he studied from January 2020 to September 2023.
Also Read: Kenyans Celebrate Allans Ademba, Student Journalist Who Covered Gen Z Protests from the Frontline
Outside of his academic and professional pursuits, Allan has a love for soul music, investigative movies, and psychology.
On the other hand, Willis Oeba, a spoken-word artist and social activist, is known for using his platform to advocate for human rights and social change, particularly among young people.
Based in Nairobi and originally from Nakuru, he holds a Bachelor of Science in Media Science from Moi University.
Willis Oeba uses his poetry to bridge gaps between citizens and duty-bearers, champion equality, and give voice to the marginalized.
He is also a voice-over artist and social media influencer.
