A social media post by Member of Parliament Millie Mabona has brought into sharp focus a growing public perception that government development projects are increasingly concentrated in constituencies headed for by-elections, particularly those occasioned by the death of sitting legislators.
Ms Mabona reacted after some Kenyans suggested online that the death of Members of Parliament had become a pathway to attracting roads, water projects and other government investments.
"Hehehe. Now some Kenyans are wishing us MPs dead so that development can pour out like rain. Sawa tu. God is seeing you," the MP posted on her social media pages.
Her remarks tapped into a narrative that has gained traction in recent months following a series of parliamentary vacancies.
Several by-elections, including the upcoming contest in Ol Kalou, have been triggered by the deaths of sitting MPs. In the run-up to these polls, senior government officials have made frequent visits to the affected constituencies, launching and inspecting development projects while making fresh promises to residents.
The trend has fuelled criticism from sections of the public who argue that areas with by-elections appear to receive more attention than constituencies represented by sitting MPs.
On social media, some users have sarcastically remarked that constituencies only "remember development" after losing their elected representative, with a few taking the argument further by making insensitive comments wishing for the deaths of legislators.
It was these remarks that drew Ms Mabona's response.
Although there is no official policy linking development funding to by-elections, political analysts say governments often intensify their presence in areas where electoral contests are imminent, both to showcase their development record and to rally political support.
Critics, however, argue that such timing reinforces the perception that public projects are being used as campaign tools rather than being implemented according to planned development priorities.
The debate comes amid heightened political activity ahead of several by-elections, with government leaders and opposition figures criss-crossing affected constituencies in search of support.
For many Kenyans, the discussion goes beyond the conduct of online users. It raises broader questions about equity in the distribution of public resources and whether all constituencies receive equal attention regardless of their political significance.
While Ms Mabona dismissed the death wishes with humour, her post highlighted the depth of public frustration over a perception that development follows political contests rather than long-term planning.
