“Paid Crowds Cannot Be Called Genuine Supporters” – Donald Kipkorir

Kenyan lawyer Donald Kipkorir has sparked a conversation about political mobilisation and the meaning of genuine public support after questioning the practice of using financial incentives to attract people to political rallies.

In his remarks, Kipkorir argued that politicians should not automatically interpret large crowds at their public meetings as evidence of strong grassroots support, particularly when attendees are allegedly provided with party uniforms, transport and financial payments to participate.

According to Kipkorir, a political gathering where participants are dressed in party-branded clothing, paid to attend and transported using hired buses or boda bodas may create an impressive appearance, but that does not necessarily demonstrate genuine political loyalty.

He maintained that authentic support should develop organically, without financial or material inducements. In his view, people who voluntarily identify with a political movement and attend its activities because they believe in its leadership and agenda demonstrate a different level of commitment from those mobilised through incentives.

To reinforce his argument, Kipkorir drew an analogy with romantic relationships, observing that paying for sex does not automatically translate into love. Similarly, he suggested, spending money to assemble a political crowd cannot automatically purchase genuine loyalty or lasting political support.

His remarks raise an important question about the way political popularity is measured in Kenya, especially as political leaders continue organising public meetings to communicate their agendas, build networks and demonstrate their influence.

Although crowd attendance can attract public attention, it does not independently establish how many participants genuinely support a politician or would remain committed without financial assistance. Equally, the presence of organised transport or party merchandise alone does not establish that every attendee was paid.

Ultimately, Kipkorir’s message challenges political leaders to distinguish between organised attendance and voluntary public support. What matters is whether political movements can maintain meaningful connections with citizens beyond the rallies.

What is your opinion on Donald Kipkorir’s remarks? Can politicians measure their popularity through rally attendance alone? Share your views, remarks and comments in the comment section.

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