‘It’s an illusion of choice’: why young Kenyans are boycotting the election

A street seller in Nairobi roasts corn on the cob next to a billboard showing presidential candidate William Ruto and his running mate Rigathi Gachagua. Photograph: Simon Maina/AFP/Getty Images

A growing number of 18- to 35-year-olds say they are not planning to vote in Kenya’s presidential elections next week.

About 40% of the 22 million people registered to vote in Tuesday’s elections are aged 18 to 35. Under-35s make up 75% of the country’s population.