Claims of paid direct nominations have already rattled Mike Sonko’s National Economic Development Party (NEDP) ahead of the 2027 elections.
- As Kenya edges closer to the 2027 general election, political party offices nationwide have turned into theaters of high-stakes maneuvering.
- Endless party leadership reshuffles, sinister ousters, and bloodless coups are on the rise as the political class positions itself for the upcoming peak season.
- Beneath the visible posturing is a more troubling trend: the hawking of party nomination tickets to thousands of hopefuls eyeing legislative, gubernatorial, and other elective seats.
- Mike Sonko’s new political vehicle, the National Economic Development Party (NEDP), has already been hit by jitters of direct party nominations being dished out for a fee.
- The infuriated interim party leader has cautioned aspirants against paying any money, insisting that the party will hold free and fair nominations.
Kenya’s Grand Auction of Democracy
The hawking of political party tickets is a long-standing sacrilege that resurfaces every election cycle in more brazen forms.
From outdoor banners advertising “direct tickets” to hushed negotiations behind closed doors, nomination season in Kenya has always been a commercial auction rather than a democratic exercise.
Conversations with party insiders paint a disturbing picture of bidding wars and underhanded political scheming unfolding in party boardrooms.
One aspirant walks in, pays a non-refundable fee in exchange for assurances of a direct nomination. Before the ink dries, a rival appears with a higher offer.
The cycle continues until the highest bidder walks away not just with a handshake, but with the party’s official endorsement.
Physical party primaries are then reduced to cosmetic rituals, elaborate charades designed to legitimize decisions already made in private.
The so-called “party strongholds,” where certain outfits command near-fanatical loyalty, are particularly vulnerable.
There, the party ticket is often tantamount to victory in the general election, making the nomination certificate more valuable than the ballots.
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko’s recent warning to aspirants within the National Economic Development Party (NEDP) suggests the vice remains alive.
“I want to caution all our aspirants. As a party, we do not solicit money. Do not give money to any party official for direct nomination,” Sonko stated, noting that party primaries are fast approaching.
His remarks point to a persistent problem even as the country publicly professes a desire to rid itself of corruption.
Over the years, close allies of party power brokers have been handed automatic tickets without facing voters in competitive primaries.
Musicians-turned-politicians such as Kevin Bahati and Charles Njagua have both cried in front of TV cameras in past election seasons after being shortchanged in nominations marred by serious political skullduggery.
Investigative journalist-turned-politician Mohammed Ali, popularly known as Jicho Pevu, was elbowed out in a hotly contested party nomination in Nyali in 2017, only to later win the parliamentary seat as an independent candidate.
Female aspirants are reportedly the hardest hit. Beyond financial demands, they face sexual advances and coercive expectations in exchange for political backing and access to party campaign machinery.
The Business of “Party Ownership” in Kenya
Fueled by the brazen sale of nomination certificates, there has been a steady proliferation of political parties untethered from ideology, philosophy, or coherent policy platforms.
During election seasons, political parties sprout with startling speed, with some existing barely long enough to field candidates.
Others morph into temporary vehicles for negotiated alliances motivated by public funding.
At the heart of this political gold rush sits the Political Parties Fund (PPF), established under the Political Parties Act, 2011.
Designed to strengthen multi-party democracy, the Fund allocates 0.3 percent of national revenue annually to qualifying political parties.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) administers funding according to a formula: 70 percent based on votes secured in the last general election, 15 percent tied to special-interest group representation, and 10 percent allocated to elected representatives.
In principle, the Fund is meant to level the playing field, promote inclusion, and institutionalize democratic competition.
In practice, however, it has inadvertently transformed party ownership into a lucrative enterprise.
The race to control sitting Members of County Assemblies and Members of Parliament is not only about political dominance but also about qualifying thresholds.
The more elected representatives a party commands, the larger its claim to public funds. This fuels aggressive recruitment and the constant strategic defections.
“Owning” a political party under this arrangement is like holding a publicly financed franchise.
With sufficient membership numbers and electoral performance, a party secures a steady stream of taxpayer funding, funding that can replenish elite networks and patronage systems.
As a result, political parties have become briefcases and special-purpose vehicles for coalition bargaining and conduits for public funds, instead of platforms for ideological debate or policy innovation.
