Western Kenya Students Association president Hiram Nickson says young people have the capacity to lead, urging them to reject political violence and demand development from regional leaders.
Young people have been urged to take up leadership positions in the 2027 General Election, with student leaders arguing that the youth have the potential and capacity to lead at all levels of government.
Speaking to the Western Kenya Times during an interview, Hiram Nickson, president of the Western Kenya Students Association and a master’s student in International Diplomacy at Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), said the time had come for young people to move beyond political participation and seek elective positions.
Nickson said the youth should consider contesting for positions ranging from Member of County Assembly (MCA) to higher offices, arguing that leadership opportunities should not be left to older politicians alone.
He, however, declared his support for President William Ruto’s re-election bid, citing what he described as visible development projects.
Among the projects he highlighted were the Turbo–Sikhendu Road, Panpaper Modern Market, and Chekalini Modern Market in Lugari Constituency, which he said had influenced his political position ahead of the 2027 polls.
Students warned against political manipulation
Nickson also called on young people to reject attempts by politicians to use them to cause chaos during political rallies, urging them to champion peace as the country approaches the next general election.
He particularly cautioned university students against political manipulation, noting that young people in learning institutions could be vulnerable to exploitation by politicians seeking to advance their interests.
He urged the youth to participate in politics responsibly, make independent decisions, and focus on leadership that addresses the challenges facing their communities.
Western leaders urged to unite for development
The student leader further called on politicians from Western Kenya to unite and present the region’s development priorities to the national government through a coordinated approach.
Nickson argued that a united regional leadership would have greater bargaining power when engaging the government and would be better placed to secure funding for infrastructure and other development projects.
“It is high time our leaders in Western Kenya spoke with one voice so that they could have greater bargaining power when engaging the president on matters of development. They should not settle for small things. When we see roads being taken to Nyanza, Western Kenya leaders should also unite to secure development for their region,” he told WKT.
He criticized what he described as individualized approaches to lobbying the national government, urging leaders to stop visiting State House separately and instead form a united team to present the region’s priorities.
According to Nickson, Western Kenya requires billions of shillings in development funding, making unity among its leaders essential in pushing for equitable resource allocation.
