BONYO'S BONE: Wantam-tutam: What are your terms?

Kenya’s next General Election is now less than a year away. On August 10, 2027, Kenyans will once again walk to the ballot to decide who should govern them, legislate for them and represent their interests.

And make no mistake, the political machinery is already running at full throttle.

Politicians are crisscrossing the country, combing villages and hamlets for votes. Town centres are witnessing campaign convoys and political rallies. Social media is awash with posters, hashtags, slogans and all manner of campaign material.

To a visitor arriving in Kenya today, you would be forgiven for thinking that the polls are opening tomorrow morning.

High octane, as we say in the newsroom.

But beneath all this political activity is something deeply troubling.

Listen to our politicians, from the aspiring MCA to the presidential hopeful, and you will hear remarkably similar conversations.

Two terms, one term and, in some cases, no term at all! The slogans that have become the substance of the campaigns.

Sure, political messaging matters. Every politician needs a rallying call. Catchy ones too. However, Kenyans deserve much more than catchy phrases and clever political branding.

The residents of Siguta Valley in Samburu North want to know what the person seeking to represent them in Nachola Ward will actually do once elected.

Just like the good people of Ithirandu in Kiru Ward want to know what the person seeking to represent Mathioya Constituency will do differently once they send that person to Nairobi to legislate.

We want to know whether our children will have better schools, if healthcare will improve and the roads will be built and maintained.

Young people want to know if they will find jobs, just like farmers are asking if they will get markets for their produce. On the other hand, businesses are asking if they will have an environment in which they can survive and grow.

And, perhaps most importantly, we want to know what you will do to grow the economy and put more money in our pockets.

Dear aspirants, this is the conversation we should be having now.

Tell us your plan. How will you create jobs? How will you attract investment?

Tell us how you will support small businesses and the millions of Kenyans who depend on them.

Will you make government more efficient and ensure that every shilling collected from taxpayers delivers value? What about the ever-rising cost of living?

Also, let us know how you will do it. Break down the cost and source of funds, because we have been sold pie-crust promises before.

Some of you have been on a permanent campaign trail for four years and what have we heard? Insults instead of ideas, personal attacks instead of policy, political theatrics instead of economic solutions.

Foul language and political indecency have, for some, become the defining features of the campaign.

Kenyans cannot afford another election reduced to personality contests and empty slogans.

We have serious problems confronting us.

Our economy needs growth, young people need jobs, businesses need an economy in which they can breathe and families need relief from the high cost of living.

These are the questions aspirants must answer. Whether you want one term, two terms or three terms is your business.

But tell us what those terms will mean for us. What will be different if we give you our vote?

What will you deliver that your predecessor did not? What problem will you solve?

Because Kenyans should not be voting merely for the loudest politician, the best slogan or the most colourful campaign convoy. We should be voting for ideas.

But we, the electorate, must also raise the bar. We should stop asking only, "Who is your candidate?" and start asking, "What is your candidate's plan?"

Let us demand the manifesto, interrogate the numbers and hold these aspirants to account.

Because an election is not a beauty contest!

It is an opportunity to choose the people who will determine the direction of our country and the quality of our lives for the next five years.

So, dear aspirants, enough with the slogans. Enough with one term and two terms. Tell us your terms.

Kenyans are not looking for more political noise; we are looking for answers.

You can no longer sell us sura badala ya sera. We want sera, whatever term you are in!