Former KU Student Leader and the Party leader of CRK
Former university student leaders have formally launched a political party after transforming a movement that initially advocated for students’ rights into a national political outfit aimed at pushing for broader reforms in the country.
Speaking during the launch, former Kenyatta University student leader Teddy Odhiambo said the movement did not originate in political boardrooms or corridors of power but was born out of the struggles faced by students in institutions of higher learning.
He explained that the movement started as Comrades of the Republic of Kenya (CRK), a civic platform that championed the rights and welfare of university and college students across the country has been registred as party now called Compatriots For Reforms Kenya,CRK.
However, the transition was not without challenges. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties raised concerns about the group’s initial name and what it perceived as revolutionary undertones.
Despite the reservations, the leaders said they remained committed to operating within the law while pushing for democratic space for diverse political ideas.
Former Machakos University student leader Jerry Mbande said the party reflects the belief that Kenya’s transformation will not come from a single individual or region but from citizens united by a shared vision.
He added that the party’s foundation is built on hope and the belief that the country can establish institutions that truly serve its people.
Nairobi County boda boda chairperson Isack Wanyama said unemployment remains a major challenge among young people, urging leaders to prioritize job creation.
Meanwhile, a student representative James Okello pledged that students across universities would support the new political movement and participate actively in shaping the country’s political direction.
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