List of political parties in Kenya

Last updated

This article lists political parties in Kenya. [1]

Political culture

Kenya's system has been a multi-party system since 1992. Since 2013, the National Assembly and Senate have been dominated by 2 coalitions of parties, in a manner similar to dominant parties ina 2 party system. Kenya had over 160 registered political parties as of November 2007. [2]

Contents

Following the implementation of several Political Parties Acts starting with the 31 December 2008 act, the number of political parties, as at March 2025 now stands at 103 [3] [4] [5] With the lapse of the registration period set out in the political parties act on 30 April 2012, twenty-four political parties had gained registration certificates while 22 others had applied for registration. [6] [7] [8]

The parties

Parliamentary parties

CoalitionPartyAbbr.LeaderIdeology Senate Assembly
Jubilee Jubilee Party
Chama cha Jubilee (Swahili)
JP Uhuru Kenyatta Kenyan nationalism
National conservatism
Economic liberalism
5 / 67
172 / 349
Kenya African National Union KANU Gideon Moi Kenyan nationalism
Conservatism
0 / 67
10 / 349
United Democratic Alliance UDA William Ruto Conservatism
32 / 67
1 / 349
Total
37 / 67
186 / 349
NASA Orange Democratic Movement ODM Raila Odinga Social democracy
Civic nationalism
Social liberalism
20 / 67
76 / 349
Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya WDM-K Kalonzo Musyoka Social democracy
4 / 67
25 / 349
Amani National Congress ANC Musalia Mudavadi Social liberalism
0 / 67
14 / 349
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya FORD-K Moses Wetangula Social democracy
0 / 67
12 / 349
The Patriotic Party
Chama cha Uzalendo (Swahili)
CCU Maur Bwanamaka Liberal democracy
0 / 67
1 / 349
Muungano Party MP Fabian Muli
0 / 67
1 / 349
Total
24 / 67
125 / 349
None Economic Freedom Party EFP Billow Kerrow
0 / 67
5 / 349
Maendeleo Chap Chap Party MCC Alfred Mutua
0 / 67
4 / 349
Local Party
Chama Cha Mashinani (Swahili)
CCM Isaac Ruto
0 / 67
2 / 349
Kenya National Congress KNC Manson Nyamweya Human rights
Social justice
Democracy
0 / 67
2 / 349
Kenya People's Party KPP
0 / 67
2 / 349
Peoples Democratic Party PDP
0 / 67
2 / 349
New Democrats ND
0 / 67
1 / 349
Party of National Unity
Chama cha Umoja wa Kitaifa (Swahili)
PNU Mwai Kibaki Conservatism
Liberal democracy
0 / 67
1 / 349
Democratic Party
Chama cha Demokrasia (Swahili)
DP Joseph K. Munyao Conservatism
1 / 67
1 / 349
Frontier Alliance Party FAP
0 / 67
1 / 349
National Agenda Party NAP
0 / 67
1 / 349

Other parties

NameIdeologyCreatedNotes
Agano Party N/A2006N/A
Alliance for Real Change N/A2010N/A
Communist Party of Kenya Communism
Marxism-Leninism
1992Formerly known as the Social Democratic Party.
Conservative Party Conservatism N/AN/A
Democratic Action Party N/AN/APart of Azimio La Umoja
Federal Party of Kenya Federalism 2007?N/A
Kenya African Democratic Union – Asili N/A2006N/A
Kenya Social Congress N/A1992N/A
Maendeleo Democratic Party N/A2007N/A
Mazingira Green Party of Kenya Green politics 1997Formerly known as the Liberal Party of Kenya.
National Rainbow Coalition – Kenya N/A2005Created after the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum.
National Labour Party N/A2004?N/A
National Party of Kenya N/A2002?N/A
National Rainbow Coalition Social democracy 2002N/A
National Vision Party N/A2008N/A
Party of Development and Reforms N/A2012N/A
Party of Independent Candidates of Kenya N/A1992N/A
Peoples Party of Kenya N/A1996N/A
Restore and Build Kenya N/A2012N/A
Safina Liberalism 1995N/A
Shirikisho Party of Kenya N/A1997N/A
Sisi Kwa Sisi N/A2002?N/A
United Democratic Movement N/A1999N/A
Unity Party of Kenya N/A2011N/A
Kenya National Democratic Alliance N/A1992N/A
Madaraka People's Movement Socialism
Progressivism
2005Identifies as a youth-focused party.
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Asili N/A1991N/A
Independent Economic PartyN/AN/AN/A
Kenya African Democratic Development Union N/A2006N/A
National Alliance of Kenya N/AN/AN/A
United Democratic Alliance N/A2020N/A
Eagle Alliance N/A2013Minor opposition coalition.
Kenya Union Party N/AN/APart of Azimio La Umoja
Pamoja African Alliance N/AN/APart of Azimio La Umoja
United Party of Independent Alliance N/AN/APart of Azimio La Umoja

Former parties

NameIdeologyCreatedDissolvedNotes
Alliance Party of Kenya N/A20122016Created in support of Uhuru Kenyatta.
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – People Social democracy 19972016Merged with the Jubilee Party.
Grand National Union of Kenya N/A20122016Merged with the Jubilee Party.
New Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya Third way
Social democracy
20062016Merged with the Jubilee Party.
The Independent Party N/A2007?2016N/A
United Democratic Forum Party Liberalism
Economic liberalism
Humanism
20122016Merged with the Jubilee Party.
United Republican Party Liberalism 20122016Merged with the Jubilee Party.
Kenya African Democratic Union Majimboism 19601964Merged with the Kenya African National Union.
Kenya People's Union Socialism 19661969Were banned after 3 years of existence.
Liberal Democratic Party Liberalism 20022005N/A
Kenya Independence Movement Kenyan nationalism 19591959Early pro-independence party.
Nairobi People's Convention Party African nationalism 19571961Early pro-independence party.
African People's Party N/A19621963N/A
Amani Coalition Centrism 20132013?Former coalition.
Baluhya Political Union N/A19601965N/A
Capricorn Africa Society N/A19491961N/A
Independent Group Right-wing politics 1956?1959European minority party.
Kenya Coalition N/A19601963N/A
Kenya Freedom Party N/A19601962Indian minority party.
Kenya Indian Congress N/A19141962Indian minority party.
New Kenya Party N/A19591963N/A
Nyanza Province African Union N/A1963?N/AN/A
Reform Party N/A1921N/AN/A
Shungwaya Freedom Party N/A1961?1967N/A
The National Alliance Kenyan nationalism
Conservatism
20002016N/A
Jubilee Alliance Centre-right politics 20132016Former ruling coalition.
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy Democracy 19911992Split into 3 parties ahead of its first election.
Kenya National Party N/A19591960N/A
National Development Party N/A19912002N/A
United Country Party N/A19541957N/A
United Party N/A19591960N/A
Young Kikuyu Association N/A1921N/AN/A
Coalition for Reforms and Democracy Social democracy 20122017Former opposition coalition.

See also

References

  1. Githinji (1 May 2025). "The Procedure to Register a Political Party in Kenya". AfroCave. Retrieved 1 May 2025.
  2. Electoral Commission of Kenya, 17 November 2007: List of registered political parties [ dead link ]
  3. "30 Parties Meet Deadline for New Law"
  4. "Unregistered Political Parties Handed A Lifeline"
  5. Registered Political Parties According To The IEBC Website Archived 11 December 2011 at the Wayback Machine
  6. http://www.parliament.go.ke/index.php?option=com_docman&task=doc_download&gid=1310&Itemid=%5B%5D The Political Parties Bill, 2011
  7. Eight political parties fail to beat registration deadline http://www.standardmedia.co.ke/sports/InsidePage.php?id=2000057376&cid=4& Archived 12 May 2012 at the Wayback Machine
  8. Fully Registered Political Parties, Office of the Registrar of Political Parties https://orpp.or.ke/document/fully-registered-political-parties-march-2025/