From 4th to 6th August 2025, the Women and Youth in Democracy (WYDE) East Africa Regional Conference was held at the Diamonds Dream of Africa Hotel in Malindi, Kenya. Organized by NIMD, the forum brought together young political leaders from Kenya, Ethiopia, Uganda, and Somalia, who are alumni of Cohorts 1 and 2 of the NIMD Democracy Academy. These youth represented political parties, civil society organizations, and grassroots movements, each actively engaged in promoting democratic governance within their countries. The gathering also included key development partners such as Demo Finland, Westminster Foundation for Democracy (WFD), EU delegates, the Ford Foundation, and the Government of Denmark.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) was officially represented at the forum. In remarks delivered on behalf of the Registrar, ORPP Malindi Coordinator Marjorie Okeyo emphasized the importance of moving beyond symbolic youth representation to fostering genuine, meaningful inclusion. She highlighted ORPP’s ongoing efforts, including party compliance audits for youth inclusion, digital platforms like the Integrated Political Parties Management System (IPPMS) and #509#, and targeted youth engagement in universities and tertiary institutions to promote political literacy and leadership.
The conference employed a participatory and engaging methodology. It featured keynote addresses, experience sharing through panel discussions, open plenary sessions, and targeted breakout groups. These sessions provided a platform for youth to reflect on their individual and collective experiences, exchange ideas, and challenge conventional approaches to political participation. Discussions were rich and grounded in both personal stories and practical insights from the field.
The culmination of the three-day event was the collaborative development of a regional roadmap and country-specific implementation strategies. These were packaged into a practical advocacy toolkit designed to guide youth-led efforts in advancing democratic reforms and political inclusion within their home countries.
Throughout the forum, participants were encouraged to ask difficult but necessary questions: Are we designing systems that truly meet the needs of today’s youth? Are young leaders being equipped with the tools, respect, and space to influence political outcomes? Is the gap between policy and practice being bridged?
The conference concluded with a shared vision that youth are not just the future of democracy in East Africa; they are key players in shaping it now. Investing in their capacity, voice, and leadership is essential for building resilient, inclusive, and responsive political systems across the region.