Small political parties in Kenya have petitioned Parliament to change the law on political funding. They say the current model is unfair and favors big parties.
Call for Amendments
National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Augustus Muli said the law denies many parties the support they need. Out of 91 registered political parties, only 47 receive government funding. According to Muli, 54 licensed parties get nothing despite being active and maintaining offices.
“We have already filed a petition to Parliament, and this petition seeks to amend Section 25 of the Political Parties Act 2011, which governs the distribution of money from the political party fund,” Muli said.
Why It Matters
The Political Parties Act of 2011 requires that at least 0.3 percent of national revenue go into the Political Parties Fund (PPF). The Registrar of Political Parties manages the fund, which is meant to help parties:
- Prepare for elections
- Develop policies
- Engage with citizens
- Support representation of special interest groups
- Cover administrative and staff costs
Small parties argue that the current distribution blocks them from these benefits. They say funding should be shared fairly to protect Kenya’s multi-party democracy.
Funding Cuts and Allocations
A gazette notice dated June 5, 2025, showed that the government allocated Ksh1.14 billion to political parties this year. Former Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu confirmed that UDA got the largest share at Ksh480 million, while ODM received Ksh256 million.
Nderitu also noted that the fund faced a budget cut in the latest supplementary budget, reducing allocations across the board.
Push for Fairness
The coalition of small parties insists that if the law was applied fully, political parties would receive about Ksh8 billion, not the current amount. They want Parliament to change the law to ensure that all 91 political parties get a fair share of funding.
