The Kenyan political landscape is witnessing a rapid expansion, with seven new political parties securing provisional registration in March alone.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has also confirmed that five additional parties are in the process of being registered.
In a notice, the ORPP revealed that it had provisionally registered the Kenya United Generation Party (KUG), Peoples Forum for Rebuilding Democracy (PFRD), Imarisha Uchumi Party (IUP), African Development Congress (ADC), Kenya Ahadi Party (KAP), National Economic Development Party (NEDP), and Forum for Economic Development Agenda (FEDA).
Records show that FEDA’s founder members include Stephen Tinga, Lucy Wambui, William Keloi, Christine Ndegwa, Benard Koskei, and Risper Awuor.
Meanwhile, KUG boasts a founding team of Jared Nyabuto, Sammy Mwanyaa, Sharon Jepkorir, Fredrick Wafula, Purity Mumbe, Vicky Chebet, Hezbon Oluoch, Cynthia Wangui, Joshua Mwonga, and Frejustus Kiima.
Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu has issued a seven-day notice before granting provisional registration to United Patriotic Movement (UPM), Party for Democratic Reforms (PDR), Alliance for Democratic Association (ADA), The Inclusive Party (TIPTIP), and Conservation of Democracy in Kenya (COD-K).
The growing number of political parties is linked to increasing concerns over party primaries, with many politicians fearing being locked out by dominant party factions. The business of political parties has also become lucrative, fueled by billions of shillings allocated to political parties from the public coffers.
With at least 48 parties that participated in the 2022 elections still benefiting from state funding, the rush to establish new political outfits underscores the high stakes of Kenya’s evolving political scene.
Whether these new entrants will bring ideological depth or simply serve as election vehicles remains to be seen.
