That this is a utopian fantasy is best illustrated by the example of the latest news from the America, the home of world's 'oldest democracy.' To witness the obsessive attention given to the amount and the origin of the money raised by respective candidates, and the way this is spun as indicative of their chances at the national election is to see democracy on its death bed. The power of the lobby groups in raising these colossal sums, and the inevitable payback shows clearly the extensive webs that greed and money can weave.

Pork-barrel projects, the Federal Reserve System and lobby power have always been the greatest barriers to real democracy in the ‘land of the free.' Every year billions in tax payer funds are channelled to special interest groups, diverted away from urgent work on national priorities like health and education. Across the pond in the UK, exists the long established culture of buying power and privilege that gave the world's most famous parliamentary democracy the House of Lords. This system, of reward for support of politicians, perfected by the venal Tony Blair has threatened to subvert political competition from since electoral campaigns were first fought, and now many countries feel absolutely no compunction about the fact that their wealthiest citizens rule in outright contravention of their constitutions.

We have of course gone through our Mr. Moneybagses in Kenya, a fair number of them. The power of money is the main reason why George Saitoti smells so sweet, and why he was able to execute the coup on Mukhisa Kituyi with such ease. It also explains why the Mwai Kibaki camp, after being unceremoniously dumped by Njenga Karume at the 2002 elections, quickly made up with him after its victory. Nicholas Biwott may rate in some books as the most evil Kenyan, he has hardly a constituency ;but his money is not as stoic as the Total Man and is even now welcome at State House.

Some commentators also claim the lubricating power of lucre as the cause behind Kieni MP Chris Murungaru's freedom, or the exculpation in court of Prof. Saitoti. Kenyan memories of helicopters raising dust, lesos, salt, sugar and even alcohol have resulted in expectations of material generosity from all electoral candidates for public office. Analysts have previously put a number of Ksh.10 billion for the successful prosecution of a general election. The fact of CDF and the hefty salaries earned by the 21^st century MP reduce the burden on the party bosses somewhat, but it still is by no means a cheap affair. Inflation and the disruption of exclusive enclaves by the evolution of two large and powerful opposing camps will mean that there are few seats that will not be keenly contested. The recent opinion polls showing President Kibaki leading the presidential election, but ODM-K winning the parliamentary majority will also serve to make the race the most competitive yet.

With all the leading ODM-K candidates unlikely to be able to raise any substantial amounts of money for their campaigns themselves, Kenyans will have to be exceedingly vigilant to ensure that these funds are not gained on the basis of promises that will only hurt Kenya.

The ruling coalition has already by way of the Anglo-Leasing scandal proved itself quite capable of resorting to underhanded methods to swell its campaign coffers. Recent pronouncements from the Stock Exchange boss linking an ODM-K victory with doom for Kenya, along with the cloud of suspicion surrounding Trans-Century group and the government's ardent privatisation drive ought to warn Kenyans that the wealth of NARC-K is no assurance that government will not be hijacked by private interests.