Kiraitu’s The Illusions of Democracy examines money, handouts and violence in Kenyan elections

The book, The Illusions of Democracy, was launched recently at the Movenpick Hotel in Nairobi. Mr Kiraitu, a former Meru Senator and a Cabinet minister in the late President Mwai Kibaki's government, said elections have increasingly become contests of bribery, manipulation and political violence instead of fair and transparent competition of ideas.

He said the country's democratic gains were being undermined by poverty, corruption, ethnic divisions and a political culture in which voters expect handouts from candidates.

"What we celebrate as democracy today is not democracy; it is actually a celebration of money because financial inducements had taken centre stage in electoral politics," he said.

Kiraitu said Kenya's struggle for democracy had been long and difficult, with both progress and disappointment. He warned that the country risked losing the gains made over the years if elections continued to be dominated by money, deceit and intimidation.(Education News Kenya — https://educationnews.co.ke/news/kiraitus-the-illusions-of-democracy-examines-money-handouts-and-violence-in-kenyan-elections)

He recalled the optimism of the struggle to end the Kenya African National Union (KANU) regime, saying young politicians of his generation saw politics as a tool for freeing Kenyans from oppression and poverty. In the book, he says they underestimated the challenges that would come with multiparty democracy, including corruption, ethnic politics, poverty, political illiteracy and the struggle for power.

He said harsh economic realities had changed how citizens engage with politics, with survival taking priority over broader democratic ideals. In rural communities, he said, concerns about food, rainfall, drought, crops, livestock, sickness and family welfare often outweigh discussion of accountability and freedom. He regretted that financial pressure on ordinary Kenyans had created an environment in which politicians are expected to give immediate financial help in exchange for support.

He said the culture of handouts and sycophancy associated with the KANU era had returned, with politicians using funerals and other gatherings to distribute money and win loyalty. The trend, he argued, has led to public cynicism, with many voters losing confidence in politicians' ability to bring change. He also questioned the quality of civic education, saying political awareness remained inadequate in some sections of the electorate, particularly in rural areas.

"Many people equate democracy with elections. But elections themselves have become a threat to democracy," he said.

He warned that elections had increasingly become a theatre of bribery, deception, manipulation and physical violence, and that a growing culture of political intolerance could undermine national stability. He cautioned that ethnic polarisation, hostility and violence could create a cycle of instability. He also said youth-led political movements, despite their frustrations and intentions, could leave leadership gaps if they failed to set out clear and sustainable alternatives.

Reflecting on his own political journey, Kiraitu said his time in government and his election loss in 2022 had taught him lessons about power, ambition and personal fulfilment. He said political success and failure are not permanent, and that pursuing power, status and public recognition could leave people dissatisfied if they put too much value on titles and possessions.

"You don't have to be elected to be happy. You don't have to be elected to make a positive difference in our society," he said.

He said meaningful contribution could also come through family, friendships and efforts to improve communities outside elective office. This, he said, was the thinking behind the final chapter of the book, titled The Pursuit of Happiness. He also paid tribute to his wife, whom he described as his greatest companion, for her support through five decades of political and personal challenges.

Mr Kiraitu said the book is intended to contribute to the national conversation on democracy by examining both the achievements and the contradictions of Kenya's multiparty system. He urged readers to look beyond political slogans and examine the realities of governance, voter participation and the country's democratic institutions.