A section of Mt Kenya youth on Sunday launched the Sauti ya Vijana Movement at Ruiru Stadium in Kiambu County, calling for a break from traditional kingpin politics and urging voters to independently determine the region’s political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The movement seeks to mobilise Gen Z and millennial voters across Mt Kenya and the country to support candidates based on their leadership and accountability rather than political declarations by established regional leaders.
Its message echoes the principles of Njamba Cia Ruriri, a political philosophy that holds that leaders should serve the community rather than demand personal loyalty.
At its core is the distinction captured in the phrase Njamba hutumikia Ruriri. Itungati hutumikia kiongozi — a true champion serves the community, while a political loyalist serves the leader.
Speaking to The Star, movement leader Isaac Mungai, popularly known as Kijana Msafi, said young voters had the numbers to influence the country’s political future and should not leave that responsibility to established politicians.
“We are uniting all the Gen Z and millennials to speak up in one voice and decide about their future as we approach forming a new government. In any voting bloc across all the regions, we are over 70 per cent, so we command the majority, and that’s why we are saying ‘Sisi ndio Kingpins’ because we have the power to determine who will be the next president. We will sell the idea, and Gen Z and millennials will subscribe to it,” Mungai said.
The movement’s call for political independence reflects Wiathi, a key Njamba Cia Ruriri principle centred on freedom and the right of communities to make their own choices without surrendering their political agency to individual power brokers.
The philosophy also emphasises Utonga, or prosperity through economic opportunity and development, and Wendani, which promotes unity despite political differences. Together, these principles place public interests and leadership accountability at the centre of politics.
Mungai said the movement would support young people seeking elective positions but ruled out contesting for office himself.
“I am not vying for any political position, but I will be on the frontline to support my fellow youth,” he said.
He described Sauti ya Vijana as politically non-aligned, saying it would champion accountable and transformative leaders regardless of their party affiliations.
“Our aim is to ensure leaders elected are accountable,” he said.
The launch comes as political leaders and parties begin positioning themselves for the 2027 elections, with Mt Kenya emerging as a key arena in the contest for voter support.