Gov’t Suspends National Youth Council Elections [Details]

The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports has suspended the 2026 National Youth Council (NYC) elections following a court order issued by the High Court at Kiambu.

In a statement on Thursday, October 8, the ministry said it had been served with an order stopping the implementation of a Gazette Notice which had provided for the gazettement of the 2026 National Youth Council elections.

"The Ministry of Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports wishes to inform the public that it has been served with a court order issued by the High Court at Kiambu, staying the implementation of Gazette Notice No. 10421, through which the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports gazetted the 2026 National Youth Council (NYC) Elections," the statement read.

The elections had been scheduled to take place in three phases, beginning at the ward level before proceeding to the constituency and national levels. 

The ministry said the court order means the elections will not be held on the previously announced dates.

"In compliance with the court order, the elections, which were scheduled to be conducted in three phases, Ward Level from 9th October 2026, Constituency Level from 16th October 2026, and National Level from 30th October 2026, will not proceed on the previously gazetted dates, pending further directions or determination by the Court," the statement added.

The ministry said it would comply with the court process while assuring those involved in the elections that it remains committed to ensuring the process is conducted within the law.

"The Ministry assures all registered voters, aspirants, youth stakeholders, partners, and the general public of its commitment to upholding the rule of law and ensuring the electoral process is conducted in accordance with the applicable legal framework," the ministry further said.

Despite the suspension of the elections, the ministry said activities aimed at preparing and informing young people would continue as the court process unfolds.

"In the interim, voter education and public sensitization activities will continue. Relevant information and updates can be accessed through the official National Youth Council website and social media platforms," the statement concluded.

The Ministry of Sports had announced new dates for the 2026 National Youth Council Elections after postponing the exercise that had initially been scheduled for July.

In a gazette notice dated Friday, July 10, Sports Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya said the elections had been postponed in accordance with the law.

"Now therefore, it is notified for the information of the general public that, pursuant to Regulation 19 (3) of the National Youth Council (Election of Certain Council Members) Regulations, 2021, the Cabinet Secretary for Youth Affairs, Creative Economy and Sports, has postponed the National Youth Council Elections that were scheduled to be held from the 5th-26th July, 2026," the notice read.

Mvurya explained that the postponement had been necessary to ensure that voter education requirements under the regulations were fully met before the elections were conducted.

"The postponement has been necessitated to ensure compliance with the voter education requirements pursuant to Regulation 21 of the National Youth Council (Election of Certain Council Members) Regulations, 2021," the notice added.

Following the postponement, Mvurya designated a new election timetable for the National Youth Council polls.

Under the revised schedule, ward-level elections were to be held on October 9, 2026, followed by constituency-level elections on October 16, 2026.

The final stage of the process, the National Youth Congress elections, was to take place on October 30, 2026.