At first glance, 31-year-old Joel Mwita Daniel blends seamlessly into the crowd.
But beneath his unassuming demeanor lies a relentless advocate for electoral governance, public administration and community security.
For over a decade, Mwita has been a driving force in reforming Kenya’s electoral landscape.
His work spans peacebuilding, conflict prevention, and fostering youth participation in elections, an area he believes is key to shaping the nation’s democratic future.
His passion for governance took root during his university years, setting him on a path that would see him contribute extensively to various aspects of the electoral process.
From grassroots initiatives to high-level policy discussions, Mwita’s impact is unmistakable.
His efforts continue to champion transparency, inclusivity and meaningful youth engagement in Kenya’s democratic processes.
His journey in electoral reforms began in 2017 when, as Secretary General of the Universities and Colleges Students Peace Association of Kenya (UCSPAK), he played a key role in negotiating and signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
This agreement led to the deployment of Biometric Voter Registration (BVR) kits to institutions of higher learning nationwide, enabling university students to register and vote in the August 2017 general election without needing to travel to their home polling stations.
“The MOU my team at UCSPAK secured with the IEBC significantly increased youth participation in elections, ensuring their voices were heard more than ever before,” Mwita remarked.
He further noted that their efforts enhanced voter registration, verification, and voting while promoting peace among young people before, during, and after the elections.
Additionally, he spearheaded the International Youth Coordination Committee (IYCC) in securing and signing a grant from the International Foundation for Electoral Systems (IFES) to advance youth engagement in electoral processes.
A graduate of Maseno University with a Bachelor of Arts in Development Studies with Information Technology, Mwita has consistently advocated for increased youth involvement in electoral participation, national cohesion, and integration.
In 2018, he documented his experiences and contributions to electoral reforms in a book titled Increasing Meaningful Youth Participation in the Electoral Processes in Kenya, published by Lambert Academic Publishing (LAP) in Germany.
“My commitment to youth participation in elections and governance has led me to collaborate with various government ministries, including the Ministries of Interior and National Administration, Education, and Youth, Sports and the Arts, alongside key development partners,” he shared.
In 2022, his dedication to electoral reforms earned him an appointment as Chairperson of the multi-sectoral IEBC Youth Coordinating Committee (IYCC).
In this role, he oversaw the development, review, and deployment of voter education materials, coordinated national voter education programs and facilitated the training of 1,500 Trainers of Trainers and 112 youth organizations on Kenya’s electoral processes.
“I have always been passionate about electoral reforms. Over the past decade, I have applied my expertise to modernizing IEBC processes to encourage greater youth participation in voting while fostering accuracy and transparency,” Mwita explained.
His leadership efforts have mobilized over Ksh250 million from Kenya’s foreign partners, including the European Union, UNDP, the Royal Danish Embassy, DIAKONIA and IFES, towards enhancing governance, peace, and youth empowerment.
Since 2016, Mwita has observed elections both locally and internationally through organizations such as the Elections Observation Group (ELOG), the International Republican Institute (IRI), the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and the Inter-Religious Council of Kenya (IRCK).
His election observation experience extends to Somaliland (2018) and Tanzania (2020), providing him with a broader perspective on electoral systems.
“In policy formulation, I have contributed my technical expertise to the National Parliamentary Technical Groups, assisting Members of the National Assembly in amending electoral laws,” he added.
Through his research initiatives under the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), he has supported the implementation of the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2250 on Youth, Peace, and Security.
His contributions have been instrumental in shaping Kenya’s National Action Plan on Youth and Peacebuilding (2020), the National Border Security Action Plan, and Kenya’s strategy for implementing UNSCR 1325 and related resolutions.
Amid growing concerns over declining youth participation in electoral processes, Mwita remains steadfast in advocating for innovative solutions to strengthen electoral integrity.
“I fell in love with electoral reforms and governance. I believe this is my calling and my future,” he passionately stated as the interview concluded.
In addition to his extensive experience, Mwita holds several professional certifications, including Election Observation from University College London, Public Administration Management from Beijing Jiaotong University in China, Voter Education from BRIDGE, Mediation Training from the Netherlands Institute of International Relations (Clingendael), Strategic Leadership and Management from Amref International University and Accounting from Strathmore University.
