Kenyan political commentator Morara Kebaso has stirred debate after arguing that the country’s costly campaign culture is a major reason many politicians end up stealing public money once elected.

He said the pressure to spend millions during campaigns pushes leaders into corruption as they attempt to recover expenses.

In a detailed public statement, Kebaso warned that political campaigns in Kenya have become financially crippling, noting that “political campaigns are extremely expensive. A politician can easily spend from 200k to 1 million in a day.”

He said this reality creates a system where only those with vast resources or illicit backing can compete.

Kebaso stated that if Kenyans hope to end the influence of dirty finances in politics, voters must rethink their expectations.

According to him, “if we truly want a nation that is not controlled by dirty money, we must discourage, despise and dismantle the culture of handouts.”

Call to End Handouts Culture

Kebaso urged Kenyans to stop demanding financial favours from candidates, saying such habits fuel a cycle of corruption.

He stressed that voters should instead embrace community-based funding systems to help credible candidates campaign fairly.

He said citizens must “cultivate a culture of social support through community fundraising for candidates to afford the basics of visibility, security, and daily movement.”

He added that as long as voters continue treating politicians like personal financiers, accountability will remain low.

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Political Costs and Corruption Link

Kebaso argued that high campaign expenses often lead politicians to feel justified in misusing public resources once in office.

He warned that “no one will spend 50 million to be an MP, 300 million to be a governor or 10 billion to be a president just because he or she is Santa Claus or Mother Teresa.”

He said these financial burdens create entitlement, where leaders believe they must “recover” what they spent.

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Call for Accountability

Kebaso concluded by emphasizing that citizens must take responsibility for the political culture they reinforce.

He insisted that if Kenyans help finance campaigns, they will have stronger moral authority to demand accountability.

He cautioned that continued acceptance of political tokens weakens moral authority, saying if voters keep receiving money from politicians “like slayqueen babes we will feel pain mpaka kwa maini huko ndani.”

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Mohamed Tubi served his first term in the 13th Parliament
Image/Parliament of Kenya