How Expensive Campaigns Fuel Corruption in Kenyaa

How Expensive Campaigns Fuel Corruption in Kenyaa

It is reported that some Kshs 4 Billion was spend between PNU and ODM in the last general elections but this could just be the tip of the ice berg as political parties have little or no obligation to file expenditure returns. Even if there was a law that requires them to do so, they can get away with filing false returns. What is worrying though, is not the amount spent but the source of that money.

Since the advent of multi-partyism, political stakes have gone high and hence the temptation to win it by all means. The most effective way is to buy votes. Since vote buying entails a lot of money, schemes to defraud state coffers have been hatched in every other campaign.

The 1992 General Elections campaign cost the exchequer a whopping 52 Billion Kshs through Goldenberg scandal. The 1997 campaign caused a huge inflation as Central bank was forced to print money. The 2005 constitutional referendum cost the tax payer around 6 Billion Kshs through Anglo Leasing Scandal that the government hatched to finance it.

Participating in the 2007 elections was an eye opener, campaign fund raising involve arm twisting business people to contribute a lot of money for campaigns. This happens at Presidential and Parliamentary elections both in the ruling party and opposition.

Business people contribute money to win tenders and to be protected once a particular party comes to power. Most targeted are Asian business communities. Those in the know agree that no political party can win an election without the contribution of Asians. Incidentally, these are the same people who win multi-billion tenders from the government. Once a party is in government, it is pay back time. It does not matter whether they are qualified or not, as long as they had contributed the campaign money, then they are in business.

Apart from arm twisting, business people who have perfected the art contribute voluntarily to both government and opposition during campaigns. Big businesses come with brief cases while small ones come with brown envelopes.

A politician who has been involved in ‘fundraisings’ in the last three general elections confided to me that those who have the money wield more power than politicians themselves. It is a kind of a symbiotic relationship between politics and big business. In the process a vicious cycle of corruption is hatched that the taxpayer loses.


Parliamentary aspirants also receive contributions from those who are operating businesses in their jurisdiction. When in office, all tenders for roads, public works and supplies automatically go to them. Often, they will do a poor work of it but the MP turns a blind eye.

Although the Political Parties Bill that among other proposals seek to finance political parties, it is yet to be seen whether politicians will conform. In Kenya and many African countries, parties are a law unto themselves. It is nigh impossible to regulate the activities of political parties.

If enough civic education could be conducted, then maybe one day the electorate will shun bribes and vote based on issues. That will be the end of high campaign spending and by extension reduce politically related corruption.

Without that, business will still finance politics and propagate corruption.