A video has been circulating online where Kenyan citizens, from Malava Constituency have been seen receiving mattresses, blankets and monetary gifts allegedly from the Woman Representative of Kakamega, just before by-elections. The men handing out the items urging them to give them votes in Luhya. In the video, a woman is seen thankfully responding to the gifts before carrying her newly acquired property.
But who can blame these people, when a huge percentage of the Kenyan population is struggling to meet their daily needs? But does this again compensate the 5 years of neglect by various political leaders? Of course not. Politicians are simply trying to cover up their incompetence. They know if they do this it will get voters from chanting “wantam” to “tutam”
The dilemma however is this. Will Kenyans allow politicians to continue taking them in this tiresome continuous cycle, after every five years? Even so now with the era of the internet where everything is brought to light, and where influencers and content creators try to educate the public concerning bribes.
Under the Kenyan Constitution voter bribery is not allowed, and penalties apply both to the giver of the bribe and the receiver, that is the voter. These penalties include up to 2 million or imprisonment up to 6 years or both. A lot of videos have been circulating online on voter bribery, but it seems the judiciary has turned a blind eye to this illegal malpractice. Over the years that has been same, where court cases on bribery have been dismissed due to lack of evidence.
Kenyan citizens rarely give their votes to a promising candidate, who has nothing other than a manifesto to give. And this is because they have been trained to accept bribes. They go to rallies with hidden agendas, expecting to receive some money, it doesn’t have to be much.
All politicians are now pressured to provide “something” in return for votes, (that has become the main manifesto). And do bribes work? Absolutely. The Rule of Return states that humans feel obliged to return a favor. Meaning that when casting their votes, they will obviously remember the politician whom they “owe” the favor.
They will forget the bad roads, poor governance, lack of bursaries and remember the pack of sugar and 200 shillings. Kenyans need to open their eyes, this is the 21st century and we need to start thinking and acting different. The media has tried educating us but to no avail.
What is worse is that once that same politician is elected to that seat again, he will continue with corruption, and lack of accountability, as the old famous saying goes,” Old habits die hard”.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission should spend a lot of time educating the public who cannot access the media, perhaps the public might just listen.
