Kalonzo claims Gov't being held hostage by election financiers

Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka has voiced concerns over what he terms as the excessive influence of political financiers on the government.

Speaking at a multi-sectoral consultative workshop on electoral law reform agenda held on Wednesday in Nakuru, Musyoka highlighted the detrimental impact of individuals who bankrolled the 2022 polls on the effective management of State affairs as he called for much-needed reforms.

“Because of the influence of money, (State) officials go through revolving doors that ensure that those who financed a campaign get tenders and get hired to lucrative positions that clearly they don’t merit,” he said.

The opposition Azimio la Umoja One Kenya co-principal further alleged that the government, in its current state, is being  held hostage by those who funded election campaigns, resulting in a lack of inclusivity in public affairs.

“We feel it, the politics of exclusion. Campaign financiers ensure that their interests get prioritized in government, legislative and policy agenda,” Musyoka posited.

He called for comprehensive reforms to level the playing field for all citizens, asserting that effective management of campaign financing is crucial to prevent government officials from being unduly influenced.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, who presided over the workshop, echoed Musyoka's concerns and emphasized on the urgency of electoral reforms.

“Given the dynamic nature of Kenya’s political and socio-economic landscape, it is necessary that the discussions on the electoral law reforms should begin immediately, and that enactment of necessary laws be done at least 12 months before the 2027 elections,” he said.

"In the 2017-2022 period, priority legislative agendas were not considered. That would have bolstered a better environment for elections. There is a need to have these legislative proposals in place, including campaign financing, elections management, and delimitation of boundaries bill to enable fast-tracking of the actions.”