Kenya’s youth took centre stage this week as the Code for Democracy civic tech hackathon brought together innovators, policymakers, and civil society leaders to reimagine democratic renewal.
Convened by the Nuru Trust Network in support of the Global Democracy Coalition, the two-day event celebrated International Democracy Day with a call to action: empower young voices, scale their ideas, and strengthen Kenya’s democratic resilience.
Speaking at the opening, Mary Yvonne Ododah, Executive Director of the Nuru Trust Network, underscored the unique spirit of the initiative.
“What makes this different is the fact that young people are channeling their voices in a productive way. We are listening, we are taking notes, and we are learning. Every Kenyan voice matters — and every young person should feel heard in the language they speak.”
The hackathon featured 20 youth innovators from across Kenya, who presented prototypes addressing voter engagement, peace and security, governance, education, and health. Their civic tech solutions demonstrated how technology can bridge gaps between citizens and government.
Dr. Charles Wambia, CEO of the National Heroes Council, highlighted the transformative potential of youth-led innovation:
“Democracy, like technology, is never static. It evolves, and here in Kenya, it is renewed daily by the energy, resilience, and ingenuity of our young people. You are democracy’s present, not just its future.”
The event focused not only on prototypes but also on dialogue. An intergenerational conversation brought together youth, government, and grassroots leaders. Ododah stressed the importance of bridging perspectives.
“We stand on the shoulders of giants. There is wisdom we can learn from older generations, and wisdom they can learn from us. Democracy grows when all voices come to the table.” she said
Charity Wangui, a lawyer and partner in the initiative, noted a remarkable shift in youth engagement.
“The youth are now engaged. Three years or four years ago, they were not very interested in issues to do with democracy, civic engagement. They’re just mostly involved in social media and other discourses that involve them alone. But now I can see that they are plugged in,” she said.
The city-based lawyer added: “They are looking for a platform where decision-makers can hear them. It’s not about how they demonstrated in the past, but how we can create solutions for a better Kenya. They may not have much, but they are using their innovation and skills.”
Youth voices were front and centre. Damian Kajwang, one of the innovators, presented a digital platform designed to amplify marginalized voices.
“We cannot say we have a democratic country if the voices of the young people who are supposed to build this nation cannot be heard. Through Peace Tech, we are ensuring that decisions are made inclusively and that every youth feels they have made an impact.”
Organizers stressed that the ideas developed will not remain theoretical. Prototypes will be tested and piloted in collaboration with county governments, civil society, and the private sector.
“I want every young person to know that they matter. I want every young person to know that they have a space in this country. That them being a citizen means that they have rights,” said Ododah. “In our constructive way, dialogue is important. Let’s use our spaces productively and have conversations that will propel our country towards a better Kenya.”
“Let’s go beyond applause and commit to scaling these solutions. Together, across generations, we will not only safeguard democracy — we will reimagine it, strengthen it, and make it more inclusive than ever before,” added Dr. Wambia.
