Discussion: My Kenya, My Responsibility: The Identity Upgrade

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The Shareholder’s Dilemma: The Short-Term Win vs. Long-Term Equity

The Scenario:

Imagine it is an election year. A candidate for the Ward Representative (MCA) seat offers your youth group Ksh 50,000 "appreciation" to buy equipment for your small business. However, you know this candidate has a history of mismanaging public funds and has no plan for the local digital hub you’ve been dreaming of.

 

The Debate Question:

"Is it more 'patriotic' to take the money now to jumpstart your personal business (which helps the economy in your own way), or to reject the cash and vote for the vision, even if you remain broke for the next two years? Are you a 'sell-out' for taking the money, or a 'dreamer' for refusing it?"

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Re: Discussion: My Kenya, My Responsibility: The Identity Upgrade

deur Abijah Wachira -
This is a good question.
Honestly everyone has a price depending on there need and level of integrity. Need being first. I personally would not take as it will be a buy out for later not to be able to hold him/her accountable.
In antwoord op Abijah Wachira

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deur Christine Mokeira -
I believe it is more patriotic to reject the money and vote for the vision. While the cash may provide short-term benefits, a vote shapes the future of the country for years. Choosing leaders based on their plans and values rather than immediate rewards helps promote good governance and long-term development. Therefore, I would prioritize the country's future over temporary financial gain.
In antwoord op Abijah Wachira

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deur Nekesa Ruth -

From a civic and ethical perspective, rejecting the money and voting based on integrity and vision is generally the more patriotic choice. Here's why:

Taking the money may help your youth group buy equipment and improve your business in the short term. That can create jobs and income. However, if the money is intended to influence your vote, it contributes to a system where leaders can avoid accountability. Electing someone who mismanages public funds could cost the community far more than KSh 50,000 through poor services, corruption, and missed opportunities like the digital hub.

Rejecting the money may mean facing financial hardship for a while, but it supports the principle that leaders should earn votes through good policies, honesty, and competence rather than gifts or cash. If more voters make this choice, it can encourage better governance and greater long-term development.

Does taking the money automatically make someone a "sell-out"? Not necessarily. People living under financial pressure may accept assistance because they have urgent needs. Their situation deserves understanding rather than quick judgment. However, if the money is accepted specifically in exchange for political support, it raises serious ethical concerns.

Similarly, refusing the money does not automatically make someone a "dreamer." It can reflect a commitment to long-term community interests and accountable leadership, even when that choice is personally costly.

A balanced conclusion is:

Patriotism is not measured by whether you become richer today, but by whether your choices help build a fairer and more accountable society tomorrow. Supporting leaders because of their integrity and plans for the community is more likely to create lasting opportunities—including businesses, jobs, and public projects such as a digital hub—than accepting short-term incentives.

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deur ANTONY TIMINA -
Hello everyone,
I wouldn't accept the money and would vote for the candidate who had a better vision for Kenya's future. While it can save a community a few Ksh 50,000 in the short term, poor leadership and corruption can lead to a community losing millions of shillings in development project delays, quality of services and opportunities. When a leader has a track record of mishandling public money, admitting it from them would only reinforce a system that continues to keep many young people struggling. I would prefer to suffer a few short years of financial loss to see a long-term solution, like a digital hub, jobs and better public services, provided by a leader. That's not being a dreamer to me, it's a long-term investment in the community and the country.
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deur Betty Njeri Mutahi -
Well, it is more patriotic to reject the money and vote for the vision.
At the moment, taking the Ksh 50,000 could help the youth group but is is just for a short time and is only beneficial for personal gains not the county nor the ward and in addition, accepting it is a way of bribery to power and not a basis for good leadership.Furthermore, it is a vice and encourages corruption which are some of the bad influences that we are fighting this very day and has become the source of most of the problems that our country Kenya is facing today.

I choose to be a dreamer and refuse the money for a better today and tomorrow, by voting for the right leaders and exposing the evils in the society.
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deur Aidah Njeri -
In legal arena : a thief and one who received and used the proceeds of crime are one and the same: criminal actors before the eyes of the law.If I take the money i would be encouraging;
corruption,misuse of public funds.Betraying the national values of integrity and Accountability .
I'd rather be a dreamer than asellout
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deur Collins Wairimu -
Taking the money doesn't automatically make you a sell-out, and refusing it doesn't automatically make you a dreamer. What matters is whether your vote remains independent.
A sell-out trades their principles for cash.
A dreamer sacrifices immediate gain for a hoped-for future.
A citizen can take the money if it's offered and still vote according to conscience.
In antwoord op Collins Wairimu

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deur Shelmith Wahito -
These were my exact thoughts.
Taking the 50,000 and still voting right ensures both the short term win and the long term equity.
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deur Albanus Mutuku -
For me,I would take the Ksh 50,000 because it would help my youth group and business immediately since it will help a lot. However, I would not let the money influence my vote. Voting is a secret right, and I would still vote for the candidate with the best vision, integrity, and plans for the community. In my view, patriotism means making decisions that benefit both my current needs and the long-term development of my area.
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deur Benard Oduor -
Hello everyone 🤠, I would reject the money and vote for the vision, because i see it as a more patriotic choice cause it prioritizes integrity, accountability and long-term development of the community over a short-term personal gain.
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deur Rehema Chelangat -
I may feel tempted to take the money because it could help my business now, but I recognize that doing so supports poor leadership and weakens accountability. I believe rejecting the cash, even if it leaves me struggling in the short term, is a more patriotic choice because it promotes integrity and long-term development. I understand that taking it might be seen as selling out, while refusing it may seem like dreaming, but I choose to stand for a better future for my community.
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deur Vallentah Vellah -
I am not a dreamer for refusing the money. True patriotism is choosing leaders based on their ability to serve the public interest rather than on short-term incentives. While KSh 50,000 may help me today, a leader with integrity and a clear vision can create opportunities that benefit thousands of young people for years since lasting development comes from good governance and not temporary handouts.
On the other side ,I also understand maybe why some people would accept the money. Economic hardships are real, and starting a business can improve livelihoods you never know . However, when citizens prioritize short-term rewards over competent leadership, society may pay a much higher price in the future through poor governance and lost opportunities
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deur Mary Ngolanye -
A good decision is one that benefits not only an individual but also the community and the nation. While taking money may provide temporary relief, it does not solve long-term problems such as unemployment, poor healthcare, corruption, and inadequate infrastructure. Voting for a leader with a clear vision and good policies offers the possibility of lasting development and improved living standards.

Furthermore, accepting money in exchange for a vote can weaken democracy by encouraging leaders to buy support instead of earning it through service and accountability. When citizens vote based on ideas, integrity, and competence, they help elect leaders who are committed to the public good.

Rejecting the cash demonstrates responsibility, integrity, and patriotism. It shows that a person's vote is valuable and cannot be bought. Although the choice may involve short-term sacrifice, it contributes to a stronger economy, better governance, and a brighter future for everyone.

For these reasons, rejecting the cash and voting for the vision is the better decision. Thank you.
In antwoord op Mary Ngolanye

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deur Mary Ngolanye -

I would reject the Ksh 50,000 and vote for the candidate with a better vision. Although the money could help my business today, accepting it encourages corruption and poor leadership. Good leaders create jobs, improve public services, and develop projects like digital hubs that benefit everyone in the long term. True patriotism means putting the country's future ahead of personal gain. Therefore, I believe refusing the money is the right decision because it promotes integrity, accountability, and sustainable development.

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deur Damian Mazo -
Personally would reject the offer. Even if it means remaining broke for two years, I believe it would be more patriotic to vote for the visionary candidate and reject the offer from the candidate with history of mismanaging public funds.
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deur Jane Kuria -
A dreamer. I will focus on vote for the vission.
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deur Dorcas Mwiti -
I think the real issue should be whether my vote will be imfluenced by my taking of the cash.

Taking the money and still voting for the candidate with the vision would not make me a sell out really. I would only be a sell out if my vote was swayed by the cash.

I would take the money but my vote would go to the candidate with vision.
In antwoord op Dorcas Mwiti

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deur Shelmith Wahito -
Exactly.
Since . No one can know who I voted for, taking the money doesn't mean I've surrendered my right to make an independent decision at the ballot box.
So I might take the money, which belongs to the public anyway, and still vote right
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deur Amos Fondo -
Strictly on patriotism lens, taking 'appreciation' money is a classic way of voter bribery, which may directly influence the integrity of the voting process. Now, I suppose one could argue that they could take the money and vote for a better candidate later on. But the question is, if such a candidate goes around issuing 'appreciation' to voters, how many of them would not get their judgement clouded by this, and actually end up voting the candidate in? I would say, not taking it (appreciation) does the ultimate good. It pressures the system towards accountability and better campaigns.
I also think a youth group has a position of influence, so even if you take it as pure offer and not transactional, there is still a good chance some of your youth group members will lean towards the candidate in the hope that they would get more from should the candidate win the elections. And that will ultimately reinstate someone with a history of mismanagement of public funds and your dream digital hub will just be nowhere near actualization.
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deur Valereen Kotia -
There is a saying: "When you sell your voice for today's gain, you may lose tomorrow's opportunities." As young people, we must think beyond immediate rewards and consider the long-term future of our ward. What we truly need is accountable leadership, sustainable development, and support for initiatives such as the digital hub that can create opportunities for many youths for years to come.Accepting the money might solve a temporary need, but electing a leader with integrity and a clear vision can transform an entire community. Therefore, I would choose principles over personal gain and support leadership that serves the public interest rather than individual interests.
In antwoord op Valereen Kotia

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deur Benard Oduor -
Right on point "when you sell your voice for todays gain, we may lose tomorrows opportunities" and this not only applies to us citizens but also our daily lives and workplaces as well.
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deur Jean Ngugi -
I would not take the money because it would only benefit my business and not address many other challenges in the community. It would also affect my ability to hold the leader accountable in the future which would mean we would be stuck with an incompetent official in office. This negatively affects everyone hence a greater loss.
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deur Dorcas Kavana -
I would not accept it because that would be strengthening poor leadership for short term gain
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deur Otonde Michael Awiti -
I will take the money as long as my vote remains secret. I know that after being given that amount before the election, there is unlikely to be any development afterward because the candidate will probably try to recover the money spent during the campaign. At the same time, if I do not accept it, someone else will.
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deur wangari kimani -
I would not take it because it might seem that I have solved the issue of having the start-up, but after some years, this will hurt my business due to economical constrains of the country being caused by that kind of candidate
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deur Shelmith Wahito -
I would take the 50,000 and still vote for the right candidate.
Turning down Ksh 50,000 won't magically eliminate corruption, but using it to build the youth group, and society, even if only in the short run...
Then when the time comes, I will vote based on competence, not generosity.
In antwoord op Shelmith Wahito

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deur Shelmith Wahito -
On second thought, sacrificing my integrity should not be an option.
I should reject the money and vote based on the candidate's vision
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deur Precious Fortune -
If patriotism is defined as promoting the long-term well-being of the community and protecting democratic accountability, then rejecting the cash and voting for a credible vision is the stronger patriotic choice.
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deur Neema Ondieki -
I will take the money and still vote the visionary.
If I don't take it someone else will
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deur KAGIA MUGURE -
I believe the most patriotic choice is to refuse the money. If a leader is widely believed or has been found to misuse public resources, accepting money from them even for a good cause can help normalize corruption and weaken accountability.
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deur Fredrick Mwangi -

My honest opinion, true patriotism is demonstrated by choosing the long-term good of the nation over short-term personal gain. Although Ksh 50,000 could help my youth group purchase equipment and improve our business, accepting money from a candidate who is known for mismanaging public funds only reinforces the culture of corruption that has held Kenya back for decades. Therefore, no, I wouldn't accept it and no way I'm voting for him. It's about time we began to think long-term and not short-term.

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deur Fredrick Mwangi -

My honest opinion, true patriotism is demonstrated by choosing the long-term good of the nation over short-term personal gain. Although Ksh 50,000 could help my youth group purchase equipment and improve our business, accepting money from a candidate who is known for mismanaging public funds only reinforces the culture of corruption that has held Kenya back for decades. Therefore, no, I wouldn't accept it and no way I'm voting for him. It's about time we began to think long-term and not short-term.

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deur Cynthia Nyawira -
Taking the cash would be an easier option than being broke for the next two years but that just leads to the progression of corruption and dysfunctional systems that disadvantage the community and hinder opportunities for the youth.
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Re: Discussion: My Kenya, My Responsibility: The Identity Upgrade

deur Fredrick Mwangi -
My honest opinion is that true patriotism is demonstrated by choosing the long-term good of the nation over short-term personal gain. Although Ksh 50,000 could help my youth group purchase equipment and improve our business, accepting money from a candidate who is known for mismanaging public funds only reinforces the culture of corruption that has held Kenya back for decades. Therefore, I would not be in support of this. I believe it's high time we as citizens began thinking everything long-term and not short-term.
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deur Mary Muraya -
While integrity is important, we cannot ignore the reality that many young people struggle financially. When someone is unemployed and an opportunity to improve their livelihood appears, the temptation is real. This dilemma highlights why ethical leadership is so important, citizens should never be forced to choose between survival and good governance.
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deur Job Onsarigo -
My message to unethical politicians is clear: money cannot buy my conscience. Offering Ksh 50,000 or even more will not determine how I vote. While the ballot is secret and every citizen is free to choose, I will exercise that right with integrity by voting for a leader of honesty, competence, and vision. Lasting development, accountability, and investment in projects such as our local digital hub are worth far more than short-term financial incentives. By refusing to let inducements influence my decision, I help promote ethical leadership and strengthen our democracy.
At stake is the demand for development as compared to accepting incentives.