Democracy Will Definitely Suffer if Elections continue To Become an Auction

By Megan Makena 

The other day, a politician was seen publicly flaunting large amounts of cash ahead of the 2027 elections. It was not subtle. It was not accidental. It was very much strategic. Because in our politics today, money is no longer support it is a weapon.

Many politicians already know that with enough money, winning becomes highly possible. Cash is distributed at rallies. Handouts are given in small envelopes. Communities are “facilitated.” And suddenly, leadership turns into a transaction instead of a responsibility something that has been going on for a while now.

But when elections become auctions, democracy suffers.

First, vote-buying distorts the will of the people. Citizens are no longer choosing leaders based on policies, integrity, or vision. Instead, short-term financial relief replaces long-term national development. A few thousand shillings today may cost millions in mismanaged public funds tomorrow something that we are always complaining about as a nation

Second, this culture affects the flow of money in the economy. Where does all this campaign cash come from? Campaigns are expensive. When politicians spend excessively before elections, many expect to “recover” that money once in office. That recovery often comes through corruption, inflated tenders, and misuse of public funds. In simple terms, the money handed out during campaigns is rarely free. Citizens eventually pay for it through poor services, higher taxes, and stalled development.

Third, it disadvantages honest leaders. Candidates with strong ideas but limited financial resources struggle to compete. Politics becomes a playground for the wealthy instead of a platform for capable leadership.

Democracy is supposed to give power to the people. But when money dominates elections, power shifts to whoever can spend the most.

If we continue normalizing the open display of cash as a campaign strategy, we continue turning our elections into business investments rather than civic processes. The 2027 elections should be about ideas, accountability, and vision, not who can flash the most money.

As a nation we should know that when leadership is bought, it is rarely accountable.