By Valentine Omondi

The united opposition is on the cross and threatened by internal grit in Mt Kenya that could undermine the much-sought-after unity.

Internal disagreements are emerging from the restive Mt Kenya, pitting former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his DCP party against other political players and parties.

The Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election has become the point of departure for Mt Kenya, as Gachagua is now convinced that his DCP party is the party of the region and wants to remain the de facto leader.

No space for Azimio La Umoja coalition

The recent admission of parties from Mt Kenya into the coalition did not augur well with Gachagua and his allies.

For Gachagua and his allies, former President Uhuru Kenyatta was trying to call the shots in the opposition and positioning his allies and buddies into leadership positions while they have no following.

Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka wrote after the meeting: “We resolved to reorganise and rebrand Azimio, welcomed Dr Fred Matiang’i, Peter Munya and Lenny Kivuti into the Azimio Council, and extended invitations to the Democratic Action Party Kenya (DAP-K) led by Hon. Eugene Wamalwa, Umoja na Maendeleo Party (UMP) led by Governor Kawira Mwangaza, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) led by Omingo Magara, and the Democratic Party (DP) led by Speaker JB Muturi to join our growing coalition.”

He said the Council also mandated him to continue engaging like-minded political formations, including the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), the People’s Liberation Party (PLP), the United Green Movement (UGM), and Linda Mwananchi upon its registration, as they continue building a broad national movement.

But MP James Gakuya dismissed the overture, saying DCP had no space for the coalition.

“Personally, and the whole fraternity of DCP, we have no space in Azimio. Even going forward, we cannot recognise it at all,” he said.

He said the opposition should work on a new coalition outfit and not Azimio La Umoja.

“If we are going to make any formation going forward, it should not be Azimio at all. That one we are going to reject in totality. We cannot allow ourselves to be fixed to that particular cocoon. As DCP, we cannot even dare to be part of Azimio on a single day,” he said.

King of the Mountain

Gachagua and his allies argue that most of the political parties and leaders have not been campaigning and mobilising and instead prefer press conferences.

DCP Organising Secretary Mithika Linturi did not mince his words over the poor show by DP and PNU in the recent by-elections in the region, and that is why they should fold and join DCP.

“In a democracy, political banter is inevitable. However, when an election result hurts you, do not deflect or become overly emotional. Instead, engage in some soul-searching,” he said.

Linturi said every political party in Kenya was free to market itself in whatever way it deems fit, provided it operates within the law.

“Take, for instance, PNU, DP, and the infamous tyre-less MBASS Party. Please market your parties. Leave the boardrooms. Nobody has invited you to DCP. You are also free to persuade us to join your parties,” he said.

He said the parties performed dismally in the recent by-elections and have no moral authority to complain.

“For instance, in Emurua Dikirr, the PNU candidate garnered 80 votes, while the DCP Party candidate received 10,760 votes. In Ol Kalou, the PNU candidate garnered 28 votes against DCP’s 35,440 votes. More recently, in the Evurore and Muminji ward by-elections, MBASS and DP lost miserably on their home turf. So, how did the DCP Party become part and parcel of those losses, and why are you so annoyed, my brothers?” he said.

But Munya, in a TV interview, said Gachagua and his allies have turned into bullies and were hurting the unity of the opposition.

Uhuru’s kid boys in hot pepe soup

Muturi and Munya find themselves in hot pepe soup and now have to face off with Gachagua.

Former President Uhuru, whom they have relied on, is a hands-off kind of leader and seems to be delegating the responsibility to Kalonzo.

For Kalonzo, he needs Gachagua to realise his presidential ambition and finds himself in a catch-22 situation.

Muturi questioned why Gachagua expected established parties to fold into a party that was only recently launched.

“Why are you saying, in the absence of those other leaders of those other parties, why are you telling them to dissolve and join DCP? And you just formed your party the other day. You found these other parties in existence. What has prompted you to think that they should dissolve and join this new outfit?” Muturi posed.

Munya dismissed suggestions that Gachagua had been endorsed to speak on behalf of the entire Mt Kenya region, insisting no such consensus had been reached.

“We also reject any impression that Gachagua has been appointed or mandated to speak on behalf of all the people, all political parties associated with the Mt Kenya region. Nor has any consensus been reached conferring such authority upon him,” Munya said.

Kivuti defended the parties’ decision to air their concerns publicly, saying coalition partners should be free to express differing views without being accused of undermining unity.

“We are part of the united opposition. Would you rather have us talk about anything – the reorganising, the self-respect, about how things should be? You’d like us to keep quiet until we sit in a boardroom?” Kivuti asked.

But Gachagua has flatly dismissed them, saying they should go out and popularise their parties ahead of any negotiations.

Waterloo

Mt Kenya remains one of the country’s most influential voting blocs, making the region central to the opposition’s strategy for 2027.

However, with several parties seeking recognition and influence within the coalition, questions over leadership and party autonomy are already emerging.

For the opposition, Mt Kenya could be its Waterloo.

By Anderson Ojwang

President William Ruto has embarked on boardroom chess gear to consolidate his vote blocks ahead of next year’s presidential elections.

President Ruto is not leaving anything to chance and has turned State House into a busier facility in recent days, with delegations arriving one after another.

From meeting the sports fraternity, President Ruto has cast his net wider to religious organisations, village elders, and on Thursday will meet private security guards.

While the combined opposition team – including Linda Mwananchi of Edwin Sifuna and James Orengo, DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Dr Fred Matiang’i – have been engaging the public in rallies, Ruto is deploying a two-pronged approach.

Ruto is deploying both boardroom meetings and public rallies to woo the electorate to his side in next year’s general elections.

Private Security Firms

The Chief Executive Officer of the Private Security Regulatory Authority, Mr Philip Leakey Okello, on August 4th, 2026, wrote to directors and shareholders of private security firms inviting them to a meeting at State House.

“The purpose of this letter is to formally invite private security officers (security guards) from your security firm, association, or union to attend a meeting scheduled to take place at State House. The meeting is scheduled for August 6th, 2026, from 8.00 am, and for ease of planning, you are required to confirm the attendance of your private security officers,” Okello wrote.

Kenya has an estimated 400,000 to over 1.2 million registered and unregistered private guards working across tens of security firms in the country. Over 2,000 active private security companies operate nationwide.

Village Elders

President Ruto has made good on his move to consolidate at the grassroots through the provincial administration by recognising village elders and paying them a stipend. Ruto has held a consultative meeting with village elders at State House, Nairobi, in a move that underscores the government’s continued engagement with grassroots leadership on national development, security, and community cohesion.

The consultative forum focused on the role of village elders in supporting government programmes at the grassroots, promoting peace, strengthening community leadership, and enhancing service delivery.

The elders are expected to continue serving as a vital link between communities and the government by mobilising citizens, resolving local disputes, and supporting the implementation of national development programmes.

Ruto said: “We call on leaders at the grassroots to champion the national conversation I have proposed on the National Development Charter and to ensure the outcome is people-driven, citizen-centred and future-focused. This conversation cannot remain in conference halls or Government offices. It must reach every county, every ward, every village and every household.”

Sports Fraternity

President Ruto started meeting the sports fraternity by inviting Premier League winners Gor Mahia and later invited Super League winners Migori Youth.

The President also hosted AFC Leopards, which benefitted from Sh10 million from the President, an additional Sh35 million sponsorship, and upgrading of the training ground.

CS Wycliff Oparanya led the AFC Leopards and Luhya delegation to State House, while Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, who is the patron of Migori Youth, and Governor Ochilo Ayacko also attended.

Migori Youth Football Club also received a bus from President Ruto.

They wrote: “Today marked another unforgettable chapter in our journey as we had the honour of presenting our National Super League trophy to H.E. President William Samoei Ruto at State House. We are deeply grateful to the President for officially handing over a team bus to us. This generous support is a major boost to our club and a powerful investment in the future of our players and football in Migori County. We also extend our sincere appreciation to our Patron, Mark Nyamita, for leading the team on this historic visit and for his unwavering commitment to the growth and success of Migori Youth FC.”

Religious Organisations

President Ruto has been engaging the Muslim community and the church to shore up his votes ahead of next year’s general elections.

On Wednesday, President Ruto hosted 9,000 Muslim community members at State House, Nairobi, and sought their support.

“Hosted more than 9,000 Muslim religious leaders from across Kenya at State House, Nairobi. My commitment is reflected in action. We have ended discriminatory vetting in the issuance of national identity cards, established a Consulate-General in Jeddah to serve Kenyans travelling to Makkah and Madinah. Operationalised passport centres in Mombasa and Garissa, commenced the establishment of the Waqf Commission to strengthen the protection and management of Muslim charitable endowments, and initiated the formal recognition of Madrasas and Duksis within our education system,” he said.

He said his administration was correcting historical injustices through equitable development across the Republic.

“Historically underserved regions, including Northern Kenya and the Coast, are receiving unprecedented investment in infrastructure and economic opportunity as we ensure that no community is left behind,” he said.

The President also hosted over 5,000 members of the Friends Church (Quakers) faithful at State House.

“We continue to enhance our partnership with religious institutions in the delivery of quality healthcare, education and community support,” he said.

Turkana

President Ruto also stretched further to the Turkana ODM stronghold and met a delegation from the region.

“Pleased to meet MPs from Turkana to discuss priorities for the county and reaffirm our commitment to inclusive development and improved livelihoods for the citizens,” he said.

Ruto said they have agreed with the leaders from the county to accelerate the completion of ongoing development projects, including affordable housing, student hostels, modern markets, fishing infrastructure, and road and water development.

“Turkana County is endowed with vast natural resources and immense economic potential that must be fully harnessed for the residents and, indeed, the entire country,” he said.

Just the beginning

State House is going to remain the heart of power, and delegations are going to increase as we head into 2027.

President Ruto’s boardroom gear is likely to be a game-changer for him.

By Sandra Blessing

In Kenya, and specifically Migori, a story is told from one generation to another about former MP John Okwanyo.

Okwanyo allegedly dozed off during a lengthy parliamentary session, only to wake up suddenly and, in a spate of confusion and loyalty, ask loudly: “What about Migori?”

Though no official record exists in the Hansard to verify this utterance, the episode has become part of Kenyan political folklore, repeated over the years in Migori.

Murang’a County emerged as Kenya’s best-performing county in the latest CountyTrak Performance Index 2026 released by Infotrak Research and Consulting, outperforming all other devolved units in the country.

The survey released on Tuesday, August 4, ranked Murang’a first nationally with an overall score of 54 per cent, followed by Kiambu at 52 per cent and Trans Nzoia at 50 per cent.

Homa Bay emerged as the best-performing county in the Nyanza region after tying for fourth nationally with Elgeyo Marakwet, Kisii and Uasin Gishu at 49 per cent.

The CountyTrak Performance Index measures residents’ satisfaction with county governments across devolved functions, including agriculture, energy, environment, housing, trade and tourism, culture and sports, social services, and planning.

And yesterday, the grandson of Sinakuru ma Dogman, alias Oyundi, aka Governor Ochilo Ayacko, found himself being asked the same question after a poll star released the 11th CountyTrak Performance Index.

Governor Ochilo’s main rival, Mark Nyamita, asked Angela Ambitho, the founder and CEO of Infotrak Research & Consulting: “Eeeeh, InfoTrak! Enyewe, bado mapambano.”

The poll was celebrating excellence in county leadership and service delivery.

“Congratulations to all the governors and counties recognised at the 11th CountyTrak Performance Index. Your achievements reflect the impact of responsive leadership, innovation and a commitment to serving citizens,” read the statement.

Nyamita wondered where Migori was in all the categories – from Education, Agriculture, Culture, Environment, Education, Roads and Infrastructure, and Water.

“Oyundi has been at the forefront of advocating for culture and educating the Luo community, and that is the same area that it also failed to appear in the top five. Ochilo bye,” he said.

Ambitho said the recognition inspired continued progress and raised the bar for service delivery in all the 47 counties.

“May these recognitions inspire continued progress and raise the bar for service delivery across all 47 counties. Here’s to evidence-driven governance and even greater milestones ahead,” she said.

Ambitho said the performance index brought data-driven conversation.

“The 11th CountyTrak Performance Index has brought together governors, policymakers, development partners and key stakeholders for a data-driven conversation on the state of county performance in Kenya. These engagements are more than an event; they are an opportunity to reflect on progress, identify areas for improvement and strengthen service delivery through credible research and evidence,” she said.

The banter

Ochilo and Nyamita have been engaged in dramatic banter that has changed the political dispensation from violence-prone to humour and digital contest.

Currently, Ochilo is under pressure from Nyamita for the seat in the 2027 general election.

By Anderson Ojwang

Mt Kenya is opening up to an interesting political dispensation of either “our way or the highway.” The rule emerging in Mt Kenya: if you can’t beat them, join them.

That is the emerging political situation – the political parties and politicians are finding themselves at the hands of the Democracy for the Citizens Party and its leadership, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

At the moment, Mt Kenya has been poisoned by Gachagua and DCP, who have taken total control of the region.

Emboldened by the Ol Kalou by-election victory with 86 percent voters’ approval of DCP and the candidate Waweru Ngotho, Gachagua is now a man on a mission.

Mt Kenya is now on a free slide to the DCP party, and delegations of defectors are streaming to Wamunyoro village in Nyeri to pledge loyalty to Gachagua.

Gachagua has declared total war on the allies of President William Ruto and warned the electorate that United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidates should only garner marginal votes and must be voted out.

Last weekend, Gachagua told what he termed as fringe parties in Mt Kenya to fold up and join the DCP party, saying they had failed to merit their existence in the emerging political space.

And yesterday, the affected party leaders came out guns blazing over Gachagua’s statement, terming it as insensitive and bullying.

Survival mode

Former Speaker JB Muturi of DP, former Cabinet Minister Peter Munya of PNU, and Levy Kivuti of Mbus, after Monday’s admission into the Azimio La Umoja coalition, which gave them a new lease of life, now find themselves fighting for survival.

In a signed statement, the three party leaders said they were concerned over Gachagua’s statement that they should fold and join the bus.

“We, the undersigned Party Leaders and Senior Officials of duly registered political parties, have noted with concern the remarks attributed to the de facto DCP leader, Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, at a church event in Meru on Sunday 26th July 2026, calling upon the Democratic Party (DP), PNU, Umoja na Maendeleo Party and BUS Party to dissolve and join DCP,” read the statement.

They said the unilateral pronouncements by one political leader purporting to direct, dissolve, merge, or determine the future of another political party are not only legally untenable but are also deeply offensive to the thousands of members, delegates, and officials who have invested their trust, time, and resources in building those parties.

“Such decisions can only be made by the lawful organs of each respective party in accordance with its constitution and the Political Parties Act,” they wrote.

But DCP Organising Secretary Mithika Linturi told off the three party leaders, telling them to market their parties instead of relying on boardroom deals to survive.

“In a democracy, political banter is inevitable. However, when an election result hurts you, do not deflect or become overly emotional. Instead, engage in some soul-searching. Hii siasa haitaki makasiriko,” he said.

No boardroom deals

Muturi said Gachagua has neither the legal nor the moral authority to prescribe the existence or future of other political parties.

“While we remain firmly committed to the broader objective of providing Kenya with alternative leadership and ending the failures of the Ruto administration, such unity must be anchored on mutual respect, consultation and voluntary cooperation – not coercion, political ultimatums or demands for surrender,” the statement read.

But Linturi told the three party leaders to market their parties instead of waiting on the wing to benefit from boardroom negotiations.

“Every political party in Kenya is free to market itself in whatever way it deems fit, provided it operates within the law. Take, for instance, PNU, DP, and the infamous tyre-less MBASS Party. Please market your parties. Leave the boardrooms. Nobody has invited you to DCP. You are also free to persuade us to join your parties,” he said.

Show us your performance

Linturi said DCP has, after its formation, aggressively expanded and performed well in the by-elections, while the other three parties have dismally performed.

“For instance, in Emurua Dikirr, the PNU candidate garnered 80 votes, while the DCP Party candidate received 10,760 votes. In Ol Kalou, the PNU candidate garnered 28 votes against DCP’s 35,440 votes. More recently, in the Evurore and Muminji ward by-elections, MBASS and DP lost miserably on their home turf. So, how did the DCP Party become part and parcel of those losses, and why are you so annoyed, my brothers? Do not find fault with DCP’s popularity. Instead, try persuasion rather than intimidation. Maamuzi ni ya wananchi, ndugu zangu! You have suddenly become too clever,” he said.

But Munya, in a press statement, said nobody had appointed Gachagua as the Mt Kenya leader.

“We also reject any impression that Hon. Gachagua has been appointed or mandated to speak on behalf of all the people or political parties of the Mt. Kenya region. No such meeting has ever been convened, nor has any consensus been reached conferring such authority upon him,” read the statement.

Resign and seek fresh mandate

The three party leaders challenged Gachagua and DCP-allied legislators to resign and seek a fresh mandate instead of deploying intimidation and bullying tactics.

“It is equally contradictory for Gachagua to advocate for the dissolution of established political parties while simultaneously hosting elected UDA leaders and engaging senior government officials, openly inviting them to his residence. Let them resign and seek a fresh mandate,” they wrote.

When you can’t beat them, join them

Murang’a Governor Irungu Kangata was forced to make a political about-turn by Gachagua’s brand of politics after he warned the former member of Linda Mwananchi against going to Ol Kalou to campaign for the DCP candidate.

For Gachagua, Mt Kenya is purely DCP, and no other political party or formation is allowed, and he warned Kangata that he risked the wrath of the electorate.

Kangata had earlier explained that Linda Mwananchi provided him with the political space that he had yearned for.

“I have always been forced to be on the political side, not necessarily because I believe in it, but because I want to win an election. This is the only time I am doing politics when I am very happy because in my group, I see all tribes. We are in one group. I am so happy because we are fighting for a cause and not a tribe,” Kangata recently said.

Recently, Kangata yielded to the pressure and found himself in Wamunyoro pledging loyalty to the new sheriff in the Mountain.

Gachagua wrote: “Welcome home, Governor Irungu Kang’ata, where you belong. At Wamunyoro Residence, I was pleased to receive my younger brother, Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Governor of Murang’a County, as a member of our party, DCP, the party of the moment and the future.”

The control

Gachagua has set a target for the 2027 general election which will give him control whether in government or opposition.

Gachagua set a target for the number of elected leaders the party must attain in the 2027 general elections.

“We must get a minimum of 130 MPs in the National Assembly, 720 MCAs, and 20 governors and senators respectively. In Mt Kenya, there are only two sides: you are either for the community or Kasongo, and you cannot be in the middle,” he said.

Closed door

For Munya, Muturi, and Kivuti, they have to rise to the challenge or perish in the cold as Mt Kenya – with Gachagua and his DCP party waiting to sweep clean the region and usher in a new political dispensation – becomes a one-party region.

By Anderson Ojwang

Homa Bay County, branded as the “Bay of Endless Potential,” is living up to the billing.

Homa Bay County’s endless conferences are yet to yield any potential in the form of development and investments, despite the last high-level Homa Bay International Investment Conference in 2024, the Devolution Conference, and now the Smart Cities and Townships Conference scheduled for this month.

After the 2022 General Election, Governor Gladys Wanga’s administration has engaged in high-voltage conferences and meetings which have failed to translate into any meaningful development potential.

And yesterday, Wanga posted that her cabinet had approved the hosting of the African Smart Cities and Township Alliance Conference from August 19th and 20th, 2026, in partnership with the World Smart Cities Forum.

MOU

Governor Gladys Wanga recently signed an MoU with the World Smart Cities Forum to position Homa Bay as a pilot region for integrated development.

The partnership will focus on healthcare, infrastructure, renewable energy, and industrial growth.

The Forum will also host its global summit in Homa Bay on August 26-27, 2026, boosting Homa Bay’s investment and tourism potential.

The Homa Bay International Investment Conference 2024

Homa Bay County has stirred the public with high-voltage international investment and trade conferences that have turned out to be pipe dreams.

In 2024, Governor G. Wanga hosted the second International Investment and Trade Conference, which was attended by President William Ruto and former Prime Minister the late Raila Odinga, among others.

It was billed as a milestone in exploiting the endless potential of Homa Bay County, and afterward, it gained a positive ranking.

During the recent International Investment Conference, the Homa Bay County Government and investors signed nine Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).

Wanga commended all stakeholders, including the executive, partners, and sponsors, for their contributions to the success of the investment conference.

MOUs signed

The county government signed MOUs with various organisations, including Afropal International Limited, Ento Tech Africa Limited, Yazmark International, Rift Valley Products Limited, Manda University Trust, Fairdeal Real Estate, Kenya Shipyard Limited, and Redington.

Wanga said that in the agricultural sector, Afropal International Limited, in collaboration with the national government, would provide a framework for edible oil palm production around the Lake Victoria region, including Homa Bay County.

Yazmark International and the Homa Bay County Government are set to establish a 50-bed Mother and Child Specialist Hospital to tackle regional healthcare challenges.

“With regards to education, the county is expected to establish Manda University Kenya to specialise in health sciences and agricultural courses through a partnership with Manda University Trust,” she added.

The Governor said Fairdeal Real Estate is set to invest in affordable housing and student hostel construction projects to support the growing population in the county.

On the other hand, Redington, through the partnership, was also expected to generate solar power that would benefit beaches, schools, and hospitals not connected to the national grid in Homa Bay, which will promote employment and technology transfer.

Tragedies

The tragedy is that after the signing of the MOUs, nothing has happened, with no investors on site in the county.

The Riwa Industrial Park, which was expected to host investors, is incomplete and an eyesore.

Riwa, which is a joint project between the national government and county government, currently stands at 37 percent completion.

This was despite the national government having contributed its 50 percent share of Sh250 million, while the county government had allocated and disbursed Sh250 million.

The sad reality is that at the Riwa Industrial Park there is no roofing, and the fencing of the facility is incomplete.

Sources revealed that the State Department had blacklisted Homa Bay County for failing to complete the construction even after receiving the national government allocation.

The national government had even installed a transformer at the facility to provide electricity to investors, but it now looks abandoned.

The county government was directed to complete the construction by 25th August 2025, but no works are ongoing at the facility, while Migori County, which received funds recently, has achieved 80 percent completion at its industrial park.

Devolution Conference 2025

The Devolution Conference came right on the heels of the International Investment and Trade Conference. The Devolution Conference hosted over 10,000 delegates at Raila Odinga Stadium and Homa Bay High School, themed “For the People; For Prosperity: Devolution as a Catalyst for Equity, Inclusion, and Social Justice.”

From the two conferences, Homa Bay County is yet to realise any investors and investment, save for President William Ruto-funded government projects in the county.

Endless political rhetoric

Homa Bay County has been served endless political rhetoric while it bleeds for development.

There is growing frustration among residents, traders, youth, and local leaders who argue that Homa Bay continues to lag in development despite possessing strong economic and tourism advantages in the country.

Among the major concerns raised is the persistent shortage of clean and reliable water, and Wanga taking credit for projects initiated or funded by the national government while failing to adequately explain how county funds allocated through devolution were being utilised.

The dissatisfaction among Homa Bay residents is also being fuelled by claims of abandoned projects scattered across the county.

Homa Bay residents have also expressed concern over what they describe as increasing political intolerance, saying county leadership should prioritise service delivery over political confrontations and online exchanges.

Wanga has defended her administration’s development record, asserting that her team has accomplished more in the past three and a half years than the previous regime did in ten years.

“It is true that we have not completed all the projects we promised; some roads are still unfinished, and some health facilities still need to be constructed, while water projects require expansion. But we are on the right path,” she stated. “When you consider what we have achieved in the past three and a half years, it is significantly more than what the previous administration accomplished in ten years.”

Governor Wanga highlighted the increase in Early Childhood Education classrooms, noting that they found only 23 in the entire 40 wards upon taking office, but have since expanded that number to 604.

By odiwuor Alala

The political landscape in Kenya is quietly sliding into a dangerous vacuum—one where ideological consensus has been replaced by the crude mechanics of cash, muscle, and systemic disorder.

Following the passing of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, a profound structural shift has taken root across the nation’s political heartlands. Where political gatherings once rallied around ideological battles, constitutional reform, or long-term socio-economic visions, a far more sinister doctrine has taken centre stage: the rise of the highest-paying goon lord.

From Mass Movements to Political Mercenaries

In the absence of principled leaders who can command massive voter bases through shared historical struggles or grand visions, political space in Kenya has become aggressively transactional.

Today, political relevance is increasingly measured not by the clarity of a leader’s manifesto, but by the size of their war chest and their willingness to deploy hired youth to drown out opponents.

Governance calls for more than handouts and muscle. When the political arena rewards whoever pays the highest daily rate to violent disruptors, democracy ceases to be a contest of ideas—it becomes an auction of intimidation.

Across various regions, campaign stops have devolved into coordinated mercenary operations. Loudhailers and policy debates are routinely replaced by hired gangs paid to heckle, disrupt, and physically derail opponents from articulating their vision. This “goonocracy” creates a hostile environment where decent, visionary leaders with genuine solutions for healthcare, youth unemployment, and agriculture are silenced before they even reach the podium.

The Tragedy of the “No-Handout, No-Vote” Trap

Perhaps the most heartbreaking manifestation of this decay can be seen in regions like Nyanza and other traditional political strongholds. In local conversations across villages, markets, and urban centres, a deeply troubling sentiment has become normalised:

“Leader X has wonderful policies and a brilliant plan for our region, but he doesn’t give out cash handouts—so we won’t elect him.”

This line of thinking represents a fatal flaw in civic consciousness. When voters prioritise a short-term handout at a rally over a candidate’s capacity to fix collapsed healthcare systems, revitalise agriculture, or build sustainable local industries, they actively sign away their own economic future.

A politician who buys a vote with handouts is not giving a gift; they are buying a licence to plunder. The millions spent hiring gangs and funding handouts during campaign seasons are systematically recovered once in office through bloated contracts, neglected public works, and institutionalised corruption.

The Recipe for National Chaos

Elevating political goons from fringe agitators to key campaign assets is playing with fire.

• Normalised Political Violence: Arming or funding disenfranchised youth to disrupt rallies normalises violence, turning unemployed young people into weaponised tools for the political elite.
• Erosion of Meritocracy: Competent leaders with workable solutions are priced out of public service, leaving elected offices in the hands of wealth-driven “clearance-sale” politicians who view governance purely as a return on investment.
• Institutional Collapse: When disorder becomes the primary tool for winning elections, state institutions lose their authority to enforce the rule of law.

Reclaiming the Soul of Kenyan Governance

Kenya cannot afford to let its post-Raila political era be defined by rowdy gangs and transactional bribery.

True governance requires programmatic policy, accountability, and the courage to engage citizens on uncomfortable economic realities. Citizens—especially in regions longing for genuine development—must reject the false generosity of cash-waving politicians.

If a candidate must hire goons to suppress their opponent’s speech, it is because their own policies cannot stand on their own merit. Until the Kenyan electorate penalises candidates who rely on violence and handouts, the cycle of poverty and chaos will only deepen. The choice is stark: either vote for ideas that build hospitals, roads, and jobs today, or take the handout today and pay for it with our collective future tomorrow.