Elections have showed voters are now wiser

Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga when he cast his ballot in the just concluded 2022 General Election. [Standard]

Political parties remain a major decider of which candidates eventually get elected. Big parties and coalitions continue to take the lion's share of seats in county assemblies and Parliament.

Bagging the nomination of one of the popular political outfits is one of the surest way of romping to victory. Beguiled by the gospel of 'suits' that is preached by politicians fervently every five years, voters end up electing only those who are deemed fit by their favourite political outfits.

Money has also for long swayed many voters into making the wrong choices. Usually, candidates with the deep pockets - those who can afford to bribe - rarely fail in elections. Age also works against aspirants, especially the youth.

These factors are partly to blame for the 'curse' of wanting political leadership in these country.

However, there seems to be a gradual awakening among voters that should be commended and encouraged. Voters are increasingly refusing to be shepherded like sheep into voting for candidates preferred by major political outfits and political big wigs. Money is not all a candidate needs to win votes. The importance assigned to age and gender in elections is also fading.

That is partly the reason a big number of lawmakers will not see the inside of the assemblies for the next five years. That is also the reason young political greenhorns, who are short on money but big on ideas, have been elected at the expense their financially well-heeled opponents.

Linet Chepkorir alias Toto campaigned on a motorcycle and won the Bomet Woman Rep seat; 22-year-old George Nene, a university student, rode on donkeys to win the Elementaita ward MCA seat; Njeri Maina (28) was elected in Kirinyaga Woman Rep; Abraham Osoi Orikai (24) is the MCA-elect for Matapato North Ward in Kajiado while Cynthia Muge (27) is the Woman Rep-elect for Nandi County. There are many other examples.

In addition, a record number of women have been elected to the assemblies and to the helm of counties. The tide is turning, slowly but surely.