A report has revealed how much it costs to win an elective political post in Kenya and how political leaders raised the funds to run their campaigns.
According to the report released by Westminister Foundation of Democracy Limited (WFD) and the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy on Friday, July 23, Senate is the most expensive seat to vie for in Kenya.
It details that each of the elected senators spent Ksh35.5 million on average in the whole 2017 campaign period before clinching a win.
The report places the Woman Representative post as the second most expensive elective position in the country. Each of the 47 woman Reps splashed Ksh22.8 Million to win.
The report further details that each Member of Parliament spent Ksh18.1 million while Members of County Assembly (MCAs) spending the least, Ksh3.1 million, in order to convince the electorates.
The survey found out that the more a candidate spends the more their chances of electoral victory. For the senators who won, they spent more than double of those who lost in the 2017 General elections. While for Woman Reps, they spent thrice times more than the unsuccessful ones.
Those who used dominant parties in regions where the party was popular increased their chances of winning and also reduced the amount of money spent.
Most of the political leaders according to the report were bankrolled by close allies, relatives and some used personal savings.
The report also touched on their monthly expenditures. On average elected members of the National Assembly spend as much as Ksh780,000 a month: primarily on development projects for constituents and donations to local interest groups. This is more than their basic monthly salary before allowances and benefits.
However, there have been attempts to reduce the cost of election campaigns. The enactment of the Election Campaign Financing Act 2013 and the Political Parties Act 2011 both sought to address challenges.
The Political Parties Fund, established by the Political Parties Act, sets the threshold for political parties to receive funds but following the 2017 elections, only the largest political formations, Jubilee and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), met this threshold.
ODM has been trying to square it out with fellow NASA principals over the issue of funds. ODM through their Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna has insisted that they have nothing to share with Wiper Party led by Kalonzo Musyoka, ANC under Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya led by Moses Wetangula.
