But before the party came alive on Saturday night during the Uwazi festival, young people had spent time in four sessions talking about the issues shaping their lives and the country they will inherit.

The sessions dubbed Ukumbi’s were categorized as Ukumbi wa Uadilifu, Rada Kwa Debe civic hub, Ukumbi wa Sauti Zetu and Ukumbi wa Bajeti.

From femicide and police accountability to public debt, governance, the Constitution and preparedness for the 2027 General Election, the conversations offered a glimpse into what young people are thinking as Kenya inches closer to another election.

Discussion going on at one of the Ukumbi where civic conversation went on during the day on the fourth edition of the Uwazi festival as they mark 10 year of its civic work in Nakuru and other counties.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

The annual festival in its fourth edition, organized by Tribeless Youth, brought together young people for a day that blended civic conversations with entertainment, creating a space where issues affecting their daily lives could be discussed openly.

Importantly the event marked a decade of Tribless Youth (TY) operation in Nakuru and other counties.

Tribeless Youth Executive Director Shikoh Kihika says the name Uwazi reflects the organization’s belief in transparency and the power of putting important conversations in the open.

“Uwazi is because we are believers in the power of transparency. When conversations are put in the open, when the Constitution is put in the open, then it gives the power back to the people,” she says.

One of the conversations focused on public debt and sought to move the discussion from national figures to the everyday experiences of young people.

Kihika says the organizers wanted participants to understand what government debt means at the local level, how taxation affects them and why public resources do not always translate into services they can see and experience.

“We have been having conversations about odious debt as a country, but have we ever localized it or had a conversation that is deeper than just the budget that we hear from the State?” she asks.

Tribeless Youth Executive Director Shikoh Kihika at the fourth edition of the Uwazi festival as they mark 10 years of its civic work in Nakuru and other counties.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

Kihika says the timing of the festival is important as the country moves towards the 2027 General Election election.

“We are around 320 days to elections and when young people start talking, then it means they are claiming back their power,” she says.

Jabulani Mugeni, programmes manager at Tribless youth notes that for the 16 years the Kenyan constitution has existed there is need to interrogate where we are heading as a country, thus the theme “Which way Kenya”.

“We wanted to look at why bad leaders keep being elected. Where does our money go? Is it the right time to amend the constitution, are we being served well?” he questions

He adds that the conversations also brought attention to why young people’s voices are being silenced, femicide, abductions, assault and deaths in police custody, issues that continue to affect public conversations around safety and accountability.

Kihika says femicide, in particular, should not be treated as a casual conversation.

“When it comes to femicide, I think we treat it like a casual conversation. We have not seen anything proper being done, yet Nakuru is leading the county with this vice,” she says.

But after hours of serious conversations, the mood shifted.

Music became the language of the evening as Costar Ojwang', Okello Max and Watendawili entertained the crowd, giving participants space to relax and enjoy themselves.

Costar Ojwang' during the fourth edition of the Uwazi festival as they mark 10 years of its civic work in Nakuru and other counties.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

For the organizers, however, the entertainment was not separate from the festival's civic purpose. It helped create a space where young people could come together, have fun and still engage with issues that affect their future.

Kihika says the ultimate goal of Uwazi is to ensure young people are not left out of decisions that shape their lives.

“Making sure that every young person is not left behind. This is a space for young people because we are believers that there is nothing for us without us,” she says.

Revellers attend the fourth edition of the Uwazi festival as they mark 10 year of its civic work in Nakuru and other counties.

Photo credit: PURITY KINUTHIA/MTAA WANGU

As the music faded and the festival came to an end, the bigger conversation remained: whether the young people who showed up to talk, question, listen and eventually made a commitment will carry those conversations into their communities and eventually into the ballot box.

wanjirukinuthia20@gmail.com

Youth voices on democracy: How Uwazi Festival has inspired civic engagement in Nakuru

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Purity Kinuthia