Change and Continuity in Youth Political Mobilization in Tharaka North Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya, 1991 -2022

Kenyan youth have remained central to electoral and political mobilization. Since the return of multi-party politics in 1991, they have formed a key constituency actively engaged by politicians during electoral cycles. The background to this study lies in the growing concern over how political actors continuously mobilize youth, often without long-term benefits for the youth themselves. This study examined continuity and change in youth political mobilization in Tharaka North Sub-County, Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya between 1991 and 2022, with the aim of understanding how youth participation has evolved and the factors influencing this trajectory.This study took the form of an exploratory research design and employed both primary and secondary data to accomplish its goals. The respondents for the field interviews were selected using stratified random and purposive sampling approaches. Stratified random sampling was used to select 90 respondents who comprised of ordinary youth residing in Tharaka North-Sub-County in the period under study. This was backed up by purposive sampling technique which was used to select 10 lead respondents, mostly youth leaders and elders. Research instruments used included questionnaires and interview schedules with open-ended questions. Qualitative methods of data analysis and interpretation were used.Key findings revealed that while youth have always been politically active, the nature of their mobilization has shifted from ideology-driven participation to transactional engagement. Anchored on the theory of patron-client relationship, the study argued that the political class take advantage of the desperate situation of the youth to promise goodies if propelled to positions of power. The study concludes that youth agency is compromised and recommends empowerment through civic education and sustainable economic opportunities.