A human soul is the immaterial essence of life: The seat of consciousness, character, will and emotions. But what about the soul of a nation? It is the collective identity, moral conscience and shared spirit of a people – the values, memories and aspirations that bind them together beyond geographical borders and political institutions.

In December 2025, Hon. Justice Isaac Hassan, former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), shared, at a conference in Nairobi, his experiences working in Afghanistan, Somalia and South Sudan. He vividly described how a nation can break its spine. Each of these countries has endured profound political instability, insecurity and humanitarian crises, offering sobering lessons on how fragile nations can become when their foundations are weakened.

I have reflected deeply on this analogy. The human spine provides structural support, facilitates movement and protects the spinal cord, which carries messages between the brain and the rest of the body. Without it, the human body is gravely compromised. Similarly, a nation that breaks its spine risks losing its ability to function, progress and protect its people.

I have, however, arrived at a further conclusion: Before a nation breaks its spine, it first loses its soul.

Unlike a physical spinal injury, which can occur suddenly, a nation’s spiritual and moral decline is gradual. Its warning signs are visible. First, its collective identity begins to fracture, often along ethnic, religious or other divisive lines. Its moral conscience, embodied in individuals, institutions and movements that hold society accountable to its values and principles, gradually weakens. Finally, the shared history, aspirations, cultural bonds and collective consciousness that give a people a sense of belonging are eroded. When these foundations are compromised, a nation becomes vulnerable to manipulation, division and derailment. It may still retain its borders, flag and institutions, but its soul is already under siege. Breaking its spine becomes a real possibility.

This is why August 10, 2027 is critical for Kenya. It is more than an election date; it is an opportunity to defend and reclaim the soul of our nation. We have faced such defining moments before. On August 4, 2010, Kenyans turned out in remarkable numbers, with 85.91 per cent of registered voters participating in the referendum. Of those who voted, 68.55 per cent endorsed the new Constitution, vindicating a 14-year struggle (1996–2010) for a new constitutional order.

Today, Kenya’s population is estimated at 58.6 million, with a median age of approximately 20.3 years. This makes the responsibility of the younger generation particularly significant. In The Wretched of the Earth, Frantz Fanon reminds us that every generation has a historical duty: To discover its mission, fulfil it or betray it (in relative unclarity). Young people cannot simply inherit the struggles of previous generations; they must understand the realities of their time, even though not fully clearly, and act decisively.

Kenya’s history is rich with those who understood this duty. From Koitalel arap Samoei and the Nandi Resistance (1895 to 1906 – the longest in our struggle for liberation), to Mekatilili wa Menza and the Giriama resistance against colonial rule; from Dedan Kimathi and the Kenya Land and Freedom Army to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga’s declaration of “Not yet Uhuru”; from JM Kariuki’s indictment of a nation of “10 millionaires and 10 million beggars” to the Seven Bearded Sisters who challenged authoritarianism in the 1980s; from the Mothers of Political Prisoners in the 1990s to the warriors and martyrs of the constitutional reform struggle (1996-2010). Raila Odinga, too, played a defining role in challenging electoral injustices and strengthening multiparty democracy.

Each generation fought for Kenya’s soul using the tools available to it. Their struggles were different, but their aspiration was shared: A freer, fairer and more just nation.

Now the baton is in our hands.

Are you 18 or older? Have you registered as a voter? Do you understand what is at stake, and why your vote matters?

The next victory in the struggle to save the soul of our nation will be won at the ballot box on Tuesday, August 10, 2027. This is our moment to defend the values, freedoms and aspirations bequeathed to us by those who came before.

Young people, discover your mission. Turn out. Participate. Vote.

Do not betray your historical duty. Do not betray Kenya. Save the soul of the nation!