Over the past few weeks, Kenyans have been treated to the 'Kura and Kula' campaign ideology, especially in the ongoing campaigns for the Kibra parliamentary seat.
Politicians allied to the ODM party have been heard urging the voters to take the money allegedly being offered by Jubilee Party candidate McDonald Mariga but cast their vote to ODM's Imran Okoth, using the 'Kula kwa Mariga, Kura kwa Imran' slogan.
But it appears that the campaign narrative has been around for years, and can be traced back to 1969 during Grace Aketch Anyango's parliamentary campaigns in Kisumu.
In a past interview published by Standard Digital, Anyango who was also among the first Kenyan politicians and the first Kisumu Mayor said that her supporters coined the name in her favour.
“I received overwhelming support. My supporters coined the campaign slogan ‘Kura Kwa Mama, Chakula kwa Khan’,” she said.
The campaign slogan was successful against her main rival Remhat Khan who was coming to the table with loads of cash to spend on the electorate, yet she had nothing.
She said that at the time, organizing one rally cost her Sh46, and she proceeded to hold the position until 1983 when she was ousted by the late Robert Ouko.
Anyango was also the first woman to preside over parliamentary proceedings as a temporary speaker.