The raging wave of politicking across the country is said to come with full mouths and pockets for the combatants as millions get burnt in ground programmes.

The politicians with an eye for 2027 General Election have already started preparing the ground, those coordinating the field activities smiling all the way to the bar, before they proceed to the bank with the little left.

Starting from impeachment to scaremongering of competitors all the way to buying off loyalty and cheering squads in rallies to online 'character assassination drives' are some of the avenues budgets have been drawn to give aspirants an advantage.

The politics of impeachment are said to be among top earning opportunities in this country so far.

Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya told us that "we have serious spenders in counties who in order to whip those deemed to be independent thinkers and pursuing public over individual good are threatened with impeachment".

Mr Natembeya said his county is among some others across the country where millions are changing hands in schemes aimed at recruiting him into "dirty and unpopular cause of betraying Kenyans".

He said "night meetings, luncheons, goat eating and beer parties are being held in neighbouring counties where attendees leave with bursting wallets after getting briefed on how to unleash impeachment terror in counties".

In extreme cases, criminal gangs appear to be making a slow but sure and steady comeback as battle terraces get readied.

A confidential source allied to former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga on January 1, 2025, revealed to us how he was among a group that recently dispersed a prayer meeting that was attended by Pastor Dorcas Rigathi in Nyeri county.

"We were mobilised from Laikipia, Nairobi and Kajiado counties where we were promised Sh5,000 each for a job well done. We were told to ensure that Pastor Dorcas was evacuated and we occupy the seat that had been reserved for her," he said.

The man in his early 40s said "we were about 300 and I know the total budget that had been submitted by our coordinator was Sh10.2 million which also had to go to friendly police officers whose duty was to ensure we gained unrestricted access to the meeting and we be not restrained in causing havoc".

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on January 2, 2025, claimed to be privy to information of how the politics of the payslip is working.

This after his impeachment in October 2024 saw Nyandarua Senator John Methu claim that “we were being courted with millions of shillings offers”.

"I personally received an offer to make Sh10 million if I supported the government in throwing Gachagua under the bus," Mr Methu claimed.

Naivasha MP Jayne Kihara on January 3, 2025, told us that "I received several calls from State House demanding that for a pay, I support the Gachagua impeachment drive...pressurised to show acts of friendship and loyalty and I get rewarded beautifully in turn".

Both Mr Methu and Ms Kihara said they refused the offers, remained stuck in supporting Gachagua, but still receiving the same offers to abandon him.

A lawyer in Gachagua's court battle regarding the impeachment process on January 3, 2025, told us that "when the dust settles and we are no longer threatened by contempt of court, I will tell you about how money in minimum of millions drives justice...determines award and revocation of conservatory orders...as well as dispossess victims of their rightful justice".

Mr Gachagua said recent ground visits by President William Ruto loyalists that are being led by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki are being used "to dish out money to political loyalists".

"Thank you for the Sh15 million you left in Embu, the Sh1,000 and half loaf of bread plus soda that you were giving those you ferried to cheer for you," Mr Gachagua said recently. 

He claimed that political loyalists not elected and aspiring continue to flock the Deputy President's official residence at Nairobi's Karen estate to collect huge stipends aimed at winning them regions back to government.

But former Murang'a governor Mr Mwangi wa Iria accuses Mr Gachagua of using the same tact to keep his rebellious trait alive and infectious.

"We have people trooping to Wamunyoro to receive cultic lessons on how to keep the country in suspense and uncertainty as they receive corruption money to use in financing programmes to scare the rest of the country," Mr Wa Iria said.

Mr wa Iria said "for every coin they spend we will match and exceed expectations...We are also not children of a lesser god...we will deal and I personally will hold president Ruto's hand into those zones Mr Gachagua is locking using suspect resources".

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya on January 3, 2025, told us that the political bribes are cheekily hidden and deftly distributed.

"We need to be serious with the way we demand answers on public budgeting abd expenditure. There is too much money that is not audited and referred to as confidential vote. That is political bribery kitty," Mr Salasya said.

He said "political actors get money hidden as democratisation kitties where some party leaders getting courted get colossal sums of public resources for their own use".

He added that "government projects are also used to siphon money to be accessed by the politically correct through fake contractors...reason why for instance, all those kitties released to pay debts for farmers as well as rejuvenate production need to be forensically audited".

The politics of fat pays have seen the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) issue notice seeking to control peace caravans that politicians fund in areas they are vote hunting.

According to Commissioner Wambui Nyutu, the stopper is aimed at dealing with a situation where millions are diverted into creating wings of conflict in the name of establishing loyal bases.

Among the suspect caravans that have resulted in physical confrontations involve a Sh150 million programme in Mt Kenya region counties.

The caravans have been mooted to gather crowds in grounds and by use of popular Mt Kenya based musicians, entertain audiences as they sneak in praise for their sponsoring politicians.

According to a budget breakdown that AVDelta News has seen, the caravans are supposed to cover Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Murang'a, Kiambu, Nyandarua and Nakuru counties.

The budget's vote heads that are indicated to be channelled through culture and social services include allowances for entertainers and partners, logistics, decor, and facilitation.

One of the conveyors of those caravans Mr Martin wa Janet has since demanded a public apology from Mr Gachagua accusing him of gatecrashing into the caravans when he is not the financier.

He accused Mr Gachagua of giving musicians loyal to him petty stipends of as little as Sh500 "only to end up invading well organised events".

Mr Watoro wa Mother who is a gospel musician on Monday this week said that "artists have become victims of political animosity where for one to perform in the caravans, conditions are that you must praise the government and speak down on Mr Gachagua".

He said he will spill the beans at an opportune time about the intrigues and manipulation in the caravans.