The ongoing Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election campaign has sparked a conversation after reports emerged that residents have been receiving gas cylinders, goats and other valuable items during campaign activities, drawing comparisons with the earlier Malava by-election where voters were largely given maize flour and mattresses.
In Ol Kalou, campaign events have been accompanied by the distribution of subsidised LPG gas kits and livestock, with supporters saying the programmes are intended to improve household livelihoods and expand access to clean cooking energy.
The scale of the giveaways has attracted widespread attention, with many Kenyans noting that the items being distributed appear to be of much higher value than those associated with the election campaigns in Western Kenya.
During the Malava contest in Kakamega County, campaign teams were mostly linked to the distribution of packets of maize flour and mattresses, which were viewed as modest forms of voter outreach compared with the gas cylinders and goats reported in Ol Kalou.
Public debate grows
The contrast between the two by-elections has generated intense discussion on social media, where users have questioned why campaign generosity appears to vary so dramatically in Central Kenya compared to Western.
Critics argue that Western Kenya residents are viewed as cheap to woo and convince, while their Mount Kenya counterparts are expensive and perceived as more valuable.
Concerns over voter inducement
The issue has revived broader concerns about the use of gifts and donations during election campaigns. Kenya’s electoral laws prohibit bribery and the use of material incentives to sway voting decisions, although proving a direct connection between handouts and voting behaviour is often difficult.
Political analysts say the comparison between Ol Kalou and Malava highlights the rising financial cost of by-elections in Kenya, where candidates and political parties increasingly rely on visible material support to mobilise supporters.
