DNK International By Our Reporter,Nairobi
Mistrust in dominant political parties, pursuit of financial gain, declining prospects within established parties and personal political benefit are driving a sharp rise in the registration of political parties barely a year to the 2027 General Election.
Data from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) shows that 32 political parties are currently provisionally registered and awaiting full registration. Registrar of Political Parties John Lorionokou said these parties must meet strict statutory requirements before being granted full registration under Section 7 of the Political Parties Act (PPA).
The requirements include having a party constitution, a minimum membership of 24,000 registered voters, at least 25 head offices and 24 county offices, and compliance with the two-thirds gender principle. Parties must also demonstrate representation of special interest groups, hold key organs such as the National Delegates Congress (NDC), National Governing Council (NGC) and National Executive Committee (NEC), and comply with all governance and inclusion standards set out in law.
Lorionokou disclosed that Kenya currently has 90 fully registered political parties, excluding Ukweli Party and Vibrant Democratic Party, which have been deregistered. There are also three registered coalitions: Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition, Kenya Kwanza Alliance and Taifa Democratic Coalition.
During the 2022 General Election, 90 political parties were fully registered, with 84 certified to participate in the elections. Of these, 48 parties secured at least one elective seat. The election cycle also saw a significant increase in independent candidates, with the ORPP receiving 6,944 applications to contest as independents, up from 4,648 in the 2017 election.
“As we approach the next General Election, compliance will not be optional. Parties must align fully with the law if they expect to participate meaningfully in the electoral process,” Lorionokou said.
Political analysts argue that the proliferation of parties has done little to deepen democracy or offer voters new ideological alternatives. Instead, they say, political parties have increasingly become bargaining tools for politicians seeking leverage in coalition politics.
Analyst Charles Munyui noted that many parties are established as “special purpose vehicles” to access power or secure a stake in government through coalitions.
“Whether you yourself win or not, as long as you are the owner of a political party, it works. It is not about ideology or internal democracy, but about positioning for power or benefits once coalitions are formed,” Munyui said.
He added that coalition politics has evolved dramatically, with alliances now comprising dozens of parties compared to two or three in previous election cycles.
Another analyst, Javas Bigambo, attributed the surge to financial incentives. He said the election period presents lucrative opportunities for party owners who charge nomination fees to aspirants who lose out in major party primaries.
“Registration and availability of political parties during election periods is an enriching business. Some individuals register parties purely to cash in on nomination fees from aspirants,” Bigambo said, adding that many of these parties remain inactive outside election seasons.
Analysts have also blamed the ORPP for the uncontrolled growth in party numbers, arguing that excessive registration strains regulatory capacity and makes effective oversight difficult.
However, Lorionokou defended the regulator, saying the ORPP has shifted to an election-centred regulatory approach focused on strengthening internal democracy, inclusion and legal compliance. He said parties must demonstrate representation of youth, persons with disabilities and other marginalized groups within their governing organs to qualify for public funding.
Currently, only 47 of the 90 fully registered political parties qualify for funding from the Political Parties Fund. Under the law, 70 per cent of the fund is distributed based on votes secured in the previous election, while the remainder is allocated based on representation of special interest groups and the number of elected members.
Lorionokou also revealed that the ORPP is critically underfunded in the 2025/26 financial year, having received KSh 508.6 million against a budget requirement of KSh 1.6 billion, limiting its ability to effectively execute its mandate.
[DNK-International@February 5, 2026]
