<p>In many countries across the world, elections are won on the strength of issues canvassed by political parties and candidates. In Kenya, however, this has never been the case in the past, and it is largely unlikely that serious issues will play any role in the forthcoming elections.</p><p>It remains intriguing how Kenyan elections are won or lost, but a few factors have come to be appreciated as key determinants.</p><p>Ethnicity or kinship, wealth and gender seem to be deciding factors whenever a Kenyan voter stands in the polling booth. These factors are well studied, and politicians are busy developing their strategies based on them.</p><p>There is no doubt that they will determine the main winners and losers this year as well. However, a new factor is emerging that may influence the so-called "swing" voters. Subliminal messaging, or crafting messages in a manner that is not so obvious, will influence the undecided voters at the very last minute. Let us examine some examples of this.</p><p><a href="http://www.nation.co.ke/oped/Opinion/How-subliminal-messaging-could-win-election/-/440808/1664064/-/n7e5r7z/-/index.html">Keep reading...</a></p>