The season in which political campaign posters deface towns across Kenya is here. Faces of candidates for governor, senator, MP, women representative and ward representatives are already visible in almost every corner.

While it is necessary for aspirants to advertise their candidacy to the masses, the manner in which posters are plastered everywhere continues to be a source of concern to businesspeople, local authorities and even motorists.

Campainers have been known to deface walls of individuals who like to see them neat and clean, ignoring warnings against posters. Others even paste their posters on road signs, ensuring good visibility by motorists but obscuring and making it impossible for the traffic warning on the road sign to be seen.

Those that do not like to play fair are also fond of plastering their posters over those of their opponents. A debate ensued after the 2007 election where city residents demanded to know whether the candidates or the city council should be held responsible to ensure the removal of the posters after the election has been concluded.

By that time, the victors are preparing for office while the losers are smacking from the thrashing they have received, with no one bothering to return and remove the posters.

A law or council by-law is needed to regulate where and how campaign posters can be placed, and who is responsible for their removal after the election.

Quote of the day: "One of the indictments of civilisation is that happiness and intelligence are so rarely found in the same person." - American writer William Feather died on January 7, 1981