PREMIUM Ballot for the rich: Alarm over Kenya’s big money elections Billions of shillings, helicopters and wealthy financiers are redefining poll contests as IEBC moves to regulate campaign spending. Politics Just now Listen

Photo credit: Francis Nderitu | Nation Media Group Even before the rules take effect, campaign financing has become a political battleground, with the opposition accusing President William Ruto’s administration of using state resources and financial muscle to influence by-election outcomes.

Beneath the campaign machinery lies an opaque political financing system in which wealthy individuals, business interests and financiers wield significant influence, often without public scrutiny despite disclosure requirements.

Former Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi also alleged that up to Sh600 million was spent during last year’s Mbeere North parliamentary by-election campaign, underscoring what opposition figures describe as the escalating cost of competitive elections.