A video showing United Democratic Alliance (UDA) supporters being paid Ksh 1,000 to attend rallies has surfaced, raising concerns about the declining popularity of President William Ruto’s political events.
This comes amidst growing dissatisfaction among Kenyans who feel that many of the promises made by the president during his campaign remain unfulfilled.
With this frustration building, rally attendance has plummeted, forcing organizers to resort to payments to attract crowds.
Such tactics highlight the fading voluntary support and suggest that people are more interested in financial incentives rather than the political message itself.
Reports indicate that this phenomenon isn’t new; both major political sides in Kenya have, at times, paid youths to attend events.
This was seen even before the 2022 elections, where some youths would attend both UDA and Azimio rallies, quickly changing their attire based on who was paying at the moment.
The use of financial incentives to draw crowds reflects the increasing disillusionment among citizens.
Recent protests across the country underscore this, with people taking to the streets over high living costs, unmet promises, and rising taxes.
The widespread dissatisfaction suggests that the president’s grip on public sentiment is weakening, pushing the government to rely more on superficial displays of support.
