Political Wars That Shook the Country Throughout the Year
In the ever-changing political environment of Kenya, the aftermath of the fiercely contested 2022 elections remained a topic of active discussion and engagement within the political sphere throughout 2023.
The focal point of the year’s political narrative was shaped by the predominant involvement and occurrences associated with political parties.
PoliticalPulseChat examines the most noteworthy political conflicts of 2023, spanning unsuccessful party coups, antagonistic takeovers, and mandated party consolidations.
Jubilee Party Wars
After the 2022 national elections, internal conflicts arose within the Jubilee Party, headed by ex-president Uhuru Kenyatta, when the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) emerged victorious in the State House race.
The gathering turned into a battleground for conflicts over leadership, as two groups surfaced: one spearheaded by EALA MP Kanini Kega and the other by Jeremiah Kioni.
This internal conflict resulted in heated legal disputes, involving the filing of petitions and the issuance of court orders.
At a certain juncture, the faction aligned with the Azimio Coalition went as far as submitting a petition against Kanini Kega and Nominated MP Sabina Chege, alleging that they were pretending to be party officials without authorization.
UDA NGC and Grassroots Registration
The UDA, after securing the presidency and commanding a majority in both chambers, didn’t become complacent or rest on its achievements.
The gathering aimed to revitalize and reinforce its framework in preparation for the 2027 elections.
A gathering of elected Governors, Senators, MPs, and MCAs took place during a National Governing Council Meeting held at the Bomas of Kenya.
Party leader William Ruto led discussions where the party suggested that all associated parties should dissolve and unite with UDA.
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The grassroots elections, originally planned for December, were rescheduled to 2024 to give affiliate parties additional time to conclude their activities and to enable the political party to expand its membership by recruiting more people.
Political Parties Fund and Ensuing Disputes
Disputes arose around the Political Parties Fund in 2023, as the ODM party objected to a decrease in funding, claiming it would negatively impact their political endeavors.
Conflicts over leadership within different political parties led to legal conflicts, particularly within the Jubilee Party, where internal power struggles resulted in competing factions attempting to gain control.
The resolution passed by the Political Parties Tribunal sanctioned the dismissal of the National Delegates Conference conducted by former President Uhuru Kenyatta on May 22.
Kenya Kwanza Parties Merger
During the Kenya Kwanza administration, the UDA party leaders, headed by Secretary General Cleophas Malala, pushed for the consolidation of associated parties into the UDA.
This appeal was directed towards groups such as Ford Kenya and ANC, encouraging them to merge and align with UDA to adopt a broader, more inclusive national perspective.
The suggested merger led to the delay of local elections that were initially planned for December. This action was strongly objected to by the parties engaged in the merger, as they argued it endangered the concept of having multiple parties in a democratic system.
Political Wars That Shook the Country Throughout the Year
