NAIROBI, Kenya – Former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho has warned that Kenya’s entrenched culture of “cash-for-votes” during elections is the root cause of runaway corruption in government.
In a statement, Kibicho said corruption does not start when leaders assume office but during campaigns, when voters demand handouts from aspirants in exchange for support at the ballot.
“Every election cycle, wananchi expect cash handouts from politicians — popularly known as kuchoma jeshi. Those who cannot raise money for handouts are often rejected at the ballot,” Kibicho noted.
He described the practice as a tragic cycle that leaves elected officials eager to recoup their campaign expenses once in power.
“A governor, for example, may spend over KSh200 million to get elected, yet their official salary for a five-year term cannot reach even half of that. What do you expect once they are in office? Many feel compelled to ‘recover their investment,’” he said.
According to Kibicho, this “investment recovery” mindset fuels graft, undermines service delivery, and robs leaders of the moral authority to rein in theft by their juniors.
He stressed that the problem cuts across all elective positions, from the highest to the lowest office.
Call for Attitudinal Change Ahead of 2027
With the 2027 general election looming, Kibicho cautioned that unless Kenyans abandon the practice of trading votes for short-term handouts, corruption and broken promises will persist.
“If in 2027 we continue to trade our votes for handouts, we should expect nothing but corruption and broken promises. In all honesty, we shall have no business complaining about bad governance. None,” he said.
Instead, he urged citizens to demand leaders of integrity, vision, and service rather than those who buy votes.
“The destiny of our nation depends on this choice. And it is ours to make,” Kibicho concluded.
