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Ol Kalou residents receives goodies from politicians ahead of by-elections.[File, Standard]
Throughout the past week, video clips from Ol Kalou Constituency have gone viral with discussions of widespread voter bribery through provision of mattresses, gas cookers, cash, and other effects. As well, videos from Democracy for Citizens Party rallies have taken the framing that despite the magnitude of voter bribery, the voters will vote for their preferred candidate.
Of course, this is not the first time Kenyans are witnessing large-scale voter bribery. However, the scale of bribery in Ol Kalou has been shocking to witness.
Ol Kalou brings to the fore one of the most enduring weaknesses of Kenya's democracy: The politics of deprivation. Every election cycle produces similar stories. Candidates descend upon communities bearing gifts that many families genuinely need. They pay school fees, contribute to funerals, donate water tanks, pay hospital bills, distribute food and provide household items that should ordinarily be accessible through decent incomes and functioning public services. If the road in your area is in terrible condition, you are guaranteed that in an election year it will be fixed.
