NAIROBI, Kenya – The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will pocket the biggest allocations from the Political Parties Fund in the 2025/26 financial year, jointly taking home more than Sh1.2 billion.
Acting Registrar of Political Parties Sophia Sitati announced Monday that only 47 out of Kenya’s 91 registered political parties had qualified for funding, based on their performance in the 2022 General Election and compliance with statutory requirements.
According to the allocations, UDA will receive over Sh789 million while ODM is set to get more than Sh421 million.
Jubilee, once the ruling party, is the only other outfit to cross the Sh100 million mark, securing Sh184 million.
Wiper Democratic Movement, led by Kalonzo Musyoka, follows with Sh98 million, while Eugene Wamalwa’s Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) has been allocated Sh43 million.
FORD-Kenya, under National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, will get Sh35 million, and the United Democratic Movement (UDM) Sh36 million. Former ruling party KANU has been allocated Sh32 million.
Most of the smaller political outfits will share minimal allocations, sparking protests from their leaders.
On September 10, a coalition of minor parties petitioned Parliament to amend the Political Parties Act, 2011, claiming the current formula is skewed in favour of dominant players and undermines multiparty democracy.
“Out of 91 registered political parties, only 47 are funded. This has crippled our ability to operate offices and organise campaigns,” said Augustus Muli, leader of the National Liberal Party (NLP).
The law ties political funding to the number of votes secured during elections, a formula that critics say entrenches dominance by a few parties while stifling smaller ones.
The funding row comes as political formations gear up for the 2027 General Election.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has already announced by-elections for 23 seats — six in the National Assembly, one in the Senate, and 16 ward representative positions — to be held on November 27. Official campaigns will run between October 8 and November 24.
