On 14–15 September 2026, young political leaders from across Kenya will gather in Naivasha for “Youth Building Bridges II: From Dialogue to Democratic Action – Preparing Young Political Leaders for the 2027 General Elections.” The two-day event is designed and implemented by the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS) as part of the WYDE Political Parties project, led by the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP) and funded by the European Union.

With Kenya’s 2027 General Elections approaching, the workshop will provide a space for young political leaders to look beyond election-day mobilisation and consider the broader role they can play in shaping political agendas, strengthening their parties and contributing to peaceful, issue-based electoral competition. The programme places particular emphasis on preparing young leaders early — before campaigns formally begin — and strengthening their capacity to participate as aspirants, policy voices, party officials and agenda setters.

The first day will examine the political road towards 2027, including the opportunities and risks facing young people seeking greater influence within political parties and electoral processes. Participants will explore how to prepare credible and competitive candidacies, navigate party nomination processes and internal competition peacefully, and contribute to stronger internal party democracy.

Policy will also be at the heart of the discussions. Through facilitated group work, participants will identify the issues they believe should shape youth-focused political agendas ahead of the elections, including employment, the digital economy, education, health, governance, climate resilience, housing and public finance. These conversations will be complemented by practical work on political communication, with a focus on building trust across political differences, countering misinformation and hate speech, and promoting constructive public debate.

The second day will turn more explicitly towards political organisation and electoral integrity. Sessions will explore community engagement, voter education, grassroots mobilisation and the structures young leaders can build ahead of the elections. Participants will also discuss their role in preventing electoral violence, strengthening confidence in electoral processes and engaging with institutions and actors including the IEBC, ORPP and PPLC.

A central component of the programme will be the Cross-Party Leadership Lab, where mixed-party groups will work together to design joint youth initiatives ahead of 2027. Their proposals will focus on areas such as peaceful political engagement, civic education, responsible digital engagement and issue-based campaigning before, during and after party nominations.

Crucially, the workshop is designed to translate dialogue into concrete action. Participants will identify priority interventions, timelines and responsibilities that they can take back to their respective political parties, covering the period leading to party primaries, electoral campaigns and the August 2027 General Election.

The programme will conclude with an interactive dialogue around a central question: Are young political leaders ready for 2027? Rather than viewing young people primarily as campaign mobilisers, the discussion will reflect on how they can take a more substantive role in shaping the electoral process — as candidates, policymakers, party officials and leaders committed to peaceful and issue-based political competition. Participants will also identify opportunities to continue cross-party youth engagement beyond the workshop.

Through activities such as Youth Building Bridges II, the WYDE Political Parties project continues to strengthen meaningful youth participation within political parties and democratic processes, while creating spaces for cross-party dialogue, political leadership and cooperation across political differences.

Event Details

Event: Youth Building Bridges II: From Dialogue to Democratic Action
Theme: Preparing Young Political Leaders for the 2027 General Elections
Dates: 14–15 September 2026
Location: Burch Hotel / Park View, Naivasha, Kenya
Designed and implemented by: Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung (KAS)
Project: WYDE Political Parties – led by ENoP and funded by the European Union
Participants: Young political leaders and representatives from across political parties in Kenya
Main topics: 2027 General Elections, party primaries, internal party democracy, youth policy agendas, political communication, electoral integrity, grassroots mobilisation, peaceful political competition and cross-party collaboration.