| SAM'S SENSE | 74B ELECTION: WHAT’S THE SENSE?

Lately I have been thinking about, what is the actual cost of a vote? What is the actual price for a vote? Please keep thinking about that. But now, IEBC estimates that next year’s general election will cost upwards of 74 billion shillings. Let that sink! 74 billion shillings for you to elect your next MCA, Member of Parliament, Governor, Senator and President. Recently, IEBC told us that we have now added more electors to the register. Before clean up, there are 25 million registered voters. On average therefore, it costs the IEBC 3,000 shillings per voter for them to choose their leaders. This makes Kenya’s one of the most expensive elections compared to a global standard of just over 600 shillings per voter. Yet, the cost of elections is not just about what IEBC directly spends. There are several institutions now engaged n preparing for the general election. From the National Police Service to the National Government Administrative Officers. The many meetings they have been holding to plan how to provide security. The work independent institutions like EACC and NCIC must do ahead of August next year. We don’t talk about the national intelligence service whose budget goes up in election years. The man-hours invested by the judiciary and tribunals to address disputes arising from processes relating to elections. How other matters of civil and criminal nature are rescheduled to prioritize election related petitions. We also don’t talk about the cost of elections as relates to the general wellness of the economy. How businesses slow down awaiting the impact of the election year to come and go. How the social fabric is disrupted. People who ordinarily would involve themselves in societal well-being have to postpone many engagements. Some will soon be saying, “let’s speak after the elections” And yes, the public space is poisoned, as the gospel of politics and politicians disrupts normal thinking. How people all of a sudden realize the ethnicity of their co-worker, the ethnic extractions of their friends on social media. Indeed, the cost of election goes far beyond the little bill we have to pay through IEBC. Yet here we are, facing Kenya’s most expensive democratic exercise. It buffles to imagine that Kenyans will go through such a process and end up with unsuitable leaders. Leaders whose only aim is to enrich self and support executive proposals for some pocket gain. How ridiculous it shall be if Kenyans spend an entire twelve months listening to politicians, being persuaded, attending sweaty and dusty gatherings to listen to promises, thereafter departing with a few coins as a bribe for attending. How ridiculous it shall be for Kenyans to attend political events, risking their lives to goonism and then in the end, elect the same people who have caused today’s problems. How hopeless it shall be to spend an entire nation’s collective conscience, as draining as it can get, as toxic as politicians like to make it, and in the end, return the same trouble makers to office. And while at it, spend a cool 74 billion shillings to pay for ballot papers that are more sophisticated than the Kenyan currency notes. Spend 74 billion shillings partly to pay for an election technology, and then end up disputing the election outcomes because a few unscrupulous politicians and poll officials will have connived to manipulate the elections. Yet, what could 74 billion shillings do? 74 billion shillings would be sufficient to finance free primary education capitation for a cool ten years going with current rates of 7.5 billion shillings per year. 74 billion shillings would be sufficient to finance our primary healthcare fund for nearly four years. And by the way, 74 billion shillings would be sufficient to deliver up to 6.6 million women through normal delivery, covered by SHA. Well, given how many pregnancies were reported in the year 2025, 74 billion shillings would take care of Kenyan mothers for nearly four years. And so the choice is clear. Either use the 74 billion shillings to elect the right MCA, the right Member of Parliament, the right senator, the right governor and indeed the right president, or endure the painful reality of missed opportunities. There’s no point of electing people who will come in to mess up with the country’s education, yet we could put the money into the same sector and improve outcomes for Kenya’s children for many years. Indeed there is no point of electing the wrong governor to preside over the fall of a county’s health sector, yet 74 billion shillings would assure quality healthcare for many years. Why elect an MP who will be running to state house to ask how they should vote about a matter affecting your welfare? And while there they leave with an attendance allowance and some money to come bribe you at your local church fundraising? Does it make sense to you? That’s my sense.