COMRADE POWER: WHY THAT ELECTIVE SEAT IS NOT WORTH IT.

SONU Leader Babu Owino

ByAntony Kiprotich

Despite the parallels to national politics, campus politics is just not worth the risk and effort .Our own KIMCSO, just like SONU and other student bodies, is not an exception either. I am surprised by the news of students meeting in their associations to strategize on how to capture a seat in the students’ organization.

Ambition is attractive. But hold your horses first. You will need money .A lot of it. You will be spending it faster than The Eurobond.  On the banners and posters that will be torn down by your opponents’ goons, which you will replace oftenly. you will be that sponsor who will buy chapatis for comrades during ‘ githeri Wednesday’, sponsor the liquor for that party held by your supporters. Buy lollipops for the ladies and give them attractive tee shirts printed by you of course!

A lot of money is needed for campaigns

All that spending won’t end there. You will hire cars for that final march. Woe if you have any fee balances. That will be cleared too. If you have strong opponents who have a weakness for cash, you will bribe them not just to stand down in your favor, but to support you as well. You will have to attend various meetings that will be held on a daily basis. On these meetings, you will have to go deep into your pockets to sponsor that soda. You will need to prove to the comrades that you won’t eat their money; that you have enough.

The shop keepers at the campus will love you dearly. Mutua will have saved your number in case of that M-Pesa transaction you will need to settle those debts. Mama Robert’s café will work on overdrive to supply those endless chapatis and other snacks that comrades will consume on the run up to the polls, on your tab of course! Comrades Mall known as ‘Kempinski’ will be opened beyond its operating hours on account of the money which you have been using on those premises.

Comrades after voting

Then you discover that you are broke and no one is willing to give you any cash. After all, you have shown them how rich you are. So you will have to lay low to avoid those opportunists. Those pests who enjoy your generosity. It will be a cat and mouse game. Hide and seek.

Come Election Day, you narrowly win. But then, you discover that the “access” to money is just a dream. That you will get a mere ksh35,000 annualy! All that hustle and the lies you used to get money will prove futile. Debts will take longer to clear.” What have I got into?” you will ask. So friends, do not rush for them blindly. It is not worth the money in the end. Just ask the losing candidates.