This archive report was first published on 14 June 2020.
Published on June 14, 2020, the state of Kenya's political parties is a cause for concern. The constant bickering in these parties is increasingly becoming worrisome and points to a deeper governance problem.
At the heart of this issue is the lack of democracy and poor party management. For instance, none of the parties has held an election since 2014, when the Orange Democratic Party convened a delegates' convention in Kasarani, Nairobi, but which ended in a fiasco as a group descended on the hall and threw out ballot boxes.
The ruling party, Jubilee, handpicked its officials after the merger between TNA and URP; none was elected, yet they make decisions that bear on national governance. This has led to a division in the party, with the Tangatanga and Kieleweke camps at odds with each other.
The National Super Alliance (Nasa) has crumbled, with the affiliate parties tearing into each other. Ford-Kenya is also troubled, with two factions fighting for recognition by the Registrar of Political Parties.
The registrar's lack of independence has made matters worse. The constant infighting and factional wars driven by selfish interests have rendered parties clueless and too weak to carry out their mandates.
Tied to this is the politics of personality cult. Party leaders give direction and members follow unquestioningly even where there are obvious hazards. This has led to opposition parties being muzzled, leaving the government to do as it pleases and paving the way for dictatorship.
