Kenyan rapper and youth advocate Henry Ohanga, widely known as Octopizzo, is urging students in universities, colleges, and TVET institutions to register as voters and take an active role in shaping the country’s future. His renewed call follows a rising wave of youth mobilisation across learning institutions, driven by the belief that meaningful change starts with young people taking responsibility for their civic power.
Why Is Octopizzo Pushing for Student Voter Registration Now?
Momentum continues to grow through the strategy “Adopt a Polling Station, Register Your Vote, Turn Up, and Protect Your Vote,” which has been gaining support on campuses. Octopizzo highlighted the impact of coordinated youth action during engagements earlier this week.
“Today at Kenyatta University, we launched the #Tunaweza Youth Program with 500+ comrades and registered 300 new voters in partnership with IEBC,” read the statement in part. He noted that the success at Kenyatta University reflects how well-organised student initiatives can drive meaningful civic participation.
“Through our strategy, Adopt a Polling Station, Register Your Vote, Turn Up, and Protect Your Vote, we’ve seen what youth unity can achieve. Registering 300 new voters at Kenyatta University with the IEBC showed the power of organised purpose.”
He stressed that the momentum must continue across all higher learning institutions. “But this must be continuous. From KU to every university, college, and TVET, we must keep registering, mobilising, and educating. Young people shouldn’t just watch change, they should shape it,” he added.
Octopizzo also called for stronger collaboration between youth groups and national bodies, saying deeper partnerships would help reach millions more young voters. “If IEBC keeps working with institutions, organisations, and grassroots organisers, millions more youth will register. Voting will become easier, safer, and accessible to all,” he said.
What Is IEBC Saying About Double Registration and Misinformation?
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has issued a firm warning against double registration as the Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise intensifies ahead of the November 27 by-elections. The commission described double registration as a serious electoral offence and assured citizens that comprehensive safeguards are already in place to detect and prevent duplication.
Biometric verification through the Kenya Integrated Election Management System (KIEMS), which uses fingerprint and iris scans, automatically flags any repeat attempt. The IEBC also urged the public to avoid spreading misinformation on social media that could undermine the credibility of the process.
“Double registration is an electoral offence. Our system will definitely flag a person who attempts to register as a voter more than once. We urge members of the public to refrain from sharing incorrect information during the ongoing voter registration exercise,” IEBC stated.
The ongoing CVR, which resumed on September 29, 2025, excludes the 24 electoral areas holding by-elections to protect the integrity of the registration process.
With coordinated youth mobilisation, institutional partnerships, and increased awareness, the push for student voter registration continues to gain momentum, setting the stage for stronger youth participation in shaping Kenya’s democratic future.
By Risper Akinyi
