By Sefu Sabila, DevReporter, Trans Nzoia
During elections, the end goal of a candidate is to charm the voter into voting for him or her. Leaders are always in a rush to woo voters with their manifestos, handouts, as well as projects.
However, in the last general elections, the youth in Trans Nzoia rubbished this move by politicians selling such ideas, claiming that it was due to their interests in serving the electorate, yet it was for their own benefit. Many such promises are never realized once the elections are over.
According to Wilson Osoreh, the projects are always a strategy by politicians to lure voters. Mostly, the projects are often aimed at the youth, a group he terms as the most excluded from accessing their daily needs, thus a small boost is likely to charm them into voting.
“Good leadership needs to be about reflecting on one’s actions. Frequently, the idea for projects is used as an attraction towards the leaders. It is a simple way for the candidate to charm the voter, suggesting that that there was much more to come if one votes for him. Rarely do the projects continue after the vote. It is just a trick by the candidate to get into office and recoup the funds spent during the campaigns.” He said.
Peris Anyera, a 2017 beneficiary of Nangulu salon project in Machinjoni, says that despite the candidate not clinching the seat, the project went on for awhile, before finally closing.
” I can’t fully dismiss the idea of projects during elections. I am among the first beneficiary of the Nangulu beauty project. Many girls from the slums of Mitume, Mumias and Premium, benefited from it, and it went on for a while before finally closing. Mostly however, this idea has now developed into a strategy for getting votes, unfortunately many never win.” She said.
Mutali further says that “election projects” are intended for confusing Kenyans, in the process destructing them from good leaders who are likely to focus and deliver.
“We all agree as Kenyans that this has now become a norm, It is a strategy. Fortunately, I did not vote for endorsement of projects nor parties, I was looking for a leader with a vision. These politicians with last minute rush want to confuse the electorate. However, they don’t mean well for the people.” He stressed
