Lately, I have come across red and white calendars pasted on market walls, hanging in shops and on any other available space in my constituency.
The most prominent feature in these calendars are the photographs of my outgoing MP with TNA's Uhuru Kenyatta. Besides a picture of Uhuru in a striped red tie standing arms akimbo, the MP has pasted his in almost similar clothes and pose.
The obvious message this is supposed to convey is that the MP is a close associate of Uhuru's, the leader of the party that commands majority following in Central Kenya.
The implication is that he is Uhuru’s choice and is therefore the man we should vote for in the March 4 elections. But even if the people of my constituency were that naive to elect a person on the basis of his personal association with Uhuru, many know that their association is no longer as warm as it used to be.
Many would know that the man who wants us to believe he is Uhuru’s bosom buddy, has been losing his favour rather fast. Many acknowledge that he did not add much value to Uhuru's defence as his witness at The Hague.
His remarks that animals would be elected in Central if they sought office on a TNA ticket did not go down well with Uhuru.
Aspirants should stop hoodwinking the electorate that they are Kenyatta’s favourites through such calendars, other visuals or even word of mouth. They should instead stand on their own to ensure a fair ground for all.
More saddening than this influence peddling, is the fact that another aspirant who hitherto appeared credible for the MP’s seat, is going round dishing out money and ‘mbuzi’ wherever he holds meetings in the constituency.
To his credit, he allegedly gives voters Shs500 when a Kiambu governor hopeful is dishing out Sh200. But I still expect him to be more of a democrat than a vote buyer, hoping he will salvage his reputation and sell his policies instead of trying to bribe the electorate.
Meanwhile, the Kiambu governor hopeful is said to be dishing out Shs200 and Shs100 to young men and women who attend his campaign meetings.
Having heard of this through third parties, last week I got to hear the stories through people who had earlier in the day attended one of his meetings in my village.
Sitting next to me in a pub, one of the recipients bragged that he was drinking keg courtesy of the princely Shs200 handout he had received from the would be governor.
He explained to anyone who cared to listen how women were made to queue for the Sh200 first so “they could go home and cook lunch”.
As the aspirant watched his would be voters meekly fall in line with bowed heads to receive the money, the area chief and his assistant stood guard ensuring those who had received the ‘bribe’ would not come for a second helping.
All these while, the aspirant majestically stood on the dais, promising the electorate more and daring the press to report that he was giving out money in anticipation of votes.
It would be unfair to only blame these aspirants, as equally guilty are the voters, some of whom have been praising the aspirants for giving them the handouts.
I have heard men in bars heaping praises on politicians who had earlier in the day made them queue to receive a measly Shs200, money that would only buy them one beer.
Hopefully, my constituents will not vote in an MP because of his perceived closeness to a national leader or because they received Sh500 from him. I sincerely hope the people of Kiambu will not vote in a governor because he has given a little money.
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