Voting with the Shilling: The “Money Talks Factor” in Kenya’s Public Policy and Electoral Democracy
The influence of money in elections has become an important ingredient in
determining electoral outcomes worldwide. The use of money in political
activities has adversely affected the nature of public policy, governance,
competition, the rule of law, transparency, equity and democracy. Although
there are laws, policies and guidelines governing the use of money during
elections, there is little political will to implement them. This paper examines
how money, or the lack thereof, determines electoral outcomes in multi-party
democracies with a focus on Kenya, employing both the hydraulic theory and
the push-and-pull paradigm. The study found that in most cases, victory in
elections follows those with money; in other cases, it is the potential for victory
that attracts money from self-interested donors. The study calls on electoral
bodies such as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to
honour their mandate and demand compliance with set laws and regulations
in a bid to entrench governance and create a level playing field for contestants.