Leaders from the Siaya County University and College Students' Caucus have publicly backed President William Ruto's government and refused to support calls by some opposition voices to return to street demonstrations.
IMAGE / tv47
They also called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to set up voter registration centers inside universities and technical colleges to encourage more young people to take part in elections.
At a press briefing, Joel Odidi, former president of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology, criticized some members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) for suggesting street protests.
He said that as young people from Nyanza, their stance is to support the broad-based government led by President William Ruto.
Clinton Obala, another student leader, said the caucus had submitted a proposal to the government and IEBC asking for voter registration centers to be set up at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University and other higher education institutions.
He stressed their loyalty to the "broad-based government" and encouraged fellow youth to see voter registration as part of their civic duty.
He said students often don't have time to travel to registration centers, so having them on campuses would help boost youth turnout. He added that the caucus had unanimously decided to back the current government.
Obala also highlighted that the Luo community has fought for decades to be part of national leadership and will stay with the ruling coalition until they are ready to put up their own presidential candidate.
Clinton Oyaya, a third-year student at Jaramogi University's Siaya campus, praised the Ruto administration for keeping promises about development.
He pointed out the launch of the Social Health Authority, which he said improved access to healthcare, and the affordable housing program, which he called essential for Kenya to become a first-world country.