Sikuku Blog

|Photo Courtesy of Shutterstock| By Micah Mukhwana Sikuku Vote buying is not new in Kenya. It has existed since the return of multiparty democracy in the early 1990s, like in the 1992 and 1997 General Elections where candidates were widely accused of using cash and gifts to influence voters. During every election cycle, stories emerge of politicians distributing cash, food, clothing and other gifts to persuade voters. Many candidates have treated elections like auctions where the highest bidder is expected to win. While these tactics have influenced some elections, with allegations of vote buying widely reported during the 2013 and 2017 presidential contests involving Uhuru Kenyatta and the late Raila Odinga, Kenya's political landscape is changing. Voters are becoming more informed, more connected and increasingly interested in leadership, accountability and ideas rather than short-term rewards. Social media platforms like X, formerly Twitter, civic education and movements such as...