Introduction and Context
Democracy is a universally recognized ideal, which can only be realized once everyone everywhere can enjoy it. However, to realize it, deliberate and concerted effort is needed from all players – the international community, national governments, civil society and the mwananchi. The Republic of Kenya is established as a multiparty democratic state, founded on the national values and principles of governance as outlined in Article 10, including democracy, participation of the people, inclusiveness and good governance. The Constitution of Kenya befits that all sovereign power belongs to the people of Kenya - it therefore follows that for democracy to be realized in the nation, then everyone must be considered an equal player in the governance agenda.
In the backdrop of a worryingly declining democracy globally, Kenya has been characterized by significant milestones, challenges and ongoing efforts in a bid to strengthen her democratic governance and the rule of law. Such strides include the adoption of an inclusive and progressive Constitution in 2010 which was seen as a guiding light in Kenya’s democratic history. 14 years down the line, however, the country continues to grapple with challenges such as corruption, exclusion, lack of transparency and accountability including in the electoral processes and mismanagement of public resources, curtailment and suppression of citizens’ freedoms and gross violation of fundamental human rights.
The future of Kenya’s democracy lies in the hands of the youth. However, the youth have shown little, if any, faith in the very democratic systems that are meant to work for them.Youth dissatisfaction and apathy was a notable challenge ahead of the 2022 elections, reflected in low rates of youth voter registration, especially for those that turned 18 after the 2017 elections. Stakeholders noted that registration outreach and tactics did not directly target young people and did not attempt to utilize digital platforms. Election day also saw a decline in voter turnout from 77 percent in 2017 to 65 percent, although more disaggregated information is needed to examine turnout specifically among youth.
Free and fair elections are at the core of a democracy, yet the Kenyan youth who as of 2021 stood at over 8 million thus being the largest youth electorate in Kenyan history, failed to show up to cast their ballot. Their voter apathy is largely attributed to a lack of trust in the political system, thus their disinterest in the electoral process. The June 2024 protests, which started as anti-Finance Bill 2024 protests brought to the fore deeper governance issues, which speak to a deeper failure in the governance systems and a total disregard of democratic ideals.
The youth-led protests both in-person and on digital platforms raised issues of a dysfunctional public system, spikes in the national debt with little to show for it, high costs of living against skyrocketing rates of unemployment among others. The youth are demoralized, and their trust in the public systems have dwindled, so much so that the Generation Z identify as partyless, sentiments brought about by , what in their view, is a failure of political parties to promote societal interests.
The young people are the leaders of tomorrow and must thus be meaningfully engaged in the democratic governance agenda. It can no longer be business as usual- the young people do not want to just be seen, they want to be heard and meaningfully engaged beyond tokenism, their voices must be harnessed and strengthened and be seen to count for the development agenda. This thus calls for youth-centric, unconventional ways of youth participation, that encourages the youth to be active players in deliberative democracy processes, and that motivates them to move away from partyless to active political party members.
Potent strategies for youth integration and participation in sustainable democracy is essential, and efforts to ensure their participation in democratic governance will only be as sustainable as they are meaningfully inclusive. The International Day of Democracy 2024 thus comes at a pivotal moment and provides us with the opportunity to re-imagine youth engagement in democratic processes, in nonconventional, out-of-the-box methodologies.
Target Audience
The Democracy Derby seeks to engage youth leagues from the political parties as well as youth drawn from The Youth Cafe, CMD Kenya’s, and Siasa Place’s diverse network of youth-led and youth-serving organizations.
Methodology
CMD Kenya aims to collaborate with The Youth Cafe and Siasa Place to host a Democracy Derby, incorporating gamification as a modern approach to civic participation. By using game elements and design techniques, the derby will transform civic engagement into an exciting and interactive experience. The Democracy Derby will feature a variety of activities, including TED-Talk Style Dialogue on the Importance of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a Tool for Good Governance as well as The Dangers of an Unchecked AI on Democracy, Peace and Stability; the "Kenya at 50" game, and a series of trivia and quizes that encourage democratic participation. These events will focus on fostering competition, collaboration, achievement, and progression among participants. Teams will engage in democratic games and challenges, designed to inspire participants to make democratic choices and build consensus. This innovative approach will make civic engagement more appealing and meaningful, tapping into the competitive spirit that makes games so engaging.
Objectives
The Democracy Derby seeks to;
Delve into the nuances of democratic governance and democratic processes necessary for a functioning democracy.
Spark reflections among the youth on how to be active players in political diplomacy and deliberative democracy.
Expected Results
Enhance awareness and need for young people to form and belong to political parties as a way of advancing multiparty democracy in Kenya.
Enhance appreciation of the need to build a culture of dialogue as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism.
Establish long-term commitment by diverse stakeholders, including youth-led and youth-serving organizations and political parties, to strengthen inclusion and participation of young people in governance and in sustainable development
Organisers
The Centre for Multiparty Democracy Kenya (CMD Kenya) is a political parties-based membership organization that exists to promote, strengthen and defend multiparty democracy in Kenya. The organization provides a platform for political parties, political actors and policy makers to engage in dialogue and cooperate in strengthening multiparty democracy. Through a collaborative approach, CMD Kenya works closely with political parties, political actors, strategic partners and key stakeholders in promoting social justice, political governance best practices, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. Since its inception, CMD Kenya has strived to strengthen the capacity of political parties and worked with other like-minded partners to advance the goals of building an inclusive, accountable and thriving multiparty democracy in Kenya. Over the 20 years of existence, CMD Kenya has collaborated with actors from various sectors to promote institutionalization, defense, promotion and growth of an inclusive accountable and vibrant multiparty democracy in Kenya.
Since 2012, The Youth Cafe (TYC) has been working with young men and women in Kenya and around Africa as a trailblazer in advancing youth-led approaches toward achieving sustainable development, social equity, innovative solutions, community resilience, and transformative change. The Youth Cafe is Africa’s largest and most diverse convening community of professionals harnessing youth advocacy, policy, and research for socio-economic and political impact, with over 3,500 member organizations, over 1,200 experts, and over 947,000 individual members aged between 18 to 35 virtually from every country in Africa. The Youth Cafe works through 4 African Regional focal points, 2 Country Offices and its Head Office. The Youth Cafe employs diverse methods to empower individuals and drive sustainable change. Through its independent funding organ, The African Youth Foundation, we provide grants to member youth organizations and local civil society actors, prioritizing relevance, impact, and sustainability while upholding strict compliance and anti-corruption standards.
Siasa Place is a youth-led and youth-focused civic-tech organization that is building confidence, skills, competencies and institutional structures necessary for meaningful and dignified participation of young people in politics, governance and civic life. Inspired by the Constitutional promise of the right to public participation, convinced of young people’s interest, potential and capacity to influence decisions that affect them, Siasa Place is leveraging technology to expand the reach and quality of young peoples’ engagement in the social, economic, civic and political life of their communities. Our three programme pillars cover themes such as Devolution and local accountability; Politics, tech and rights; Equality; as well as Youth Employability, skilling and mentorship