How UDA, ODM will pocket millions from Political Parties Fund

President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are set to receive the largest portion of the Sh1.2 billion allocated to political parties from the Political Parties Fund (PPF).

The two parties will share over Sh856 million in the Financial Year 2024-2025.

According to the Registrar of Political Parties, the disbursement process has already begun, with the first Sh306.4 million received from the National Treasury.

The money will be disbursed quarterly upon receipt from the National Treasury, with Sh306.4 million for the first quarter already received.

According to a gazette notice, UDA will receive the largest share, Sh558.49 million, while ODM will receive Sh298.3 million.

Jubilee Party, led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, will also receive a substantial amount of Sh130.85 million.

These three parties stand to benefit the most from the fund.

Legal basis for fund allocation

The Political Parties Act of 2011, specifically Section 24, establishes the Political Parties Fund, which the Registrar of Political Parties manages.

The fund allocation is based on legal criteria, as outlined in Section 26 of the Act. Seventy percent of the fund is distributed based on the number of votes secured by each party in the last general election.

An additional 15 percent is allocated to parties based on the number of candidates from special interest groups who were elected.

Another 10 percent is shared among parties based on the number of elected representatives, while the remaining five percent is used for administrative expenses by the Registrar's office.

For a party to qualify for funding, it must secure at least five percent of the total votes cast in the preceding general election.

Additionally, a party will be denied funding if more than two-thirds of its office bearers are of the same gender.

Other beneficiaries out of the 48 parties eligible for the funding, six others are set to receive amounts between Sh20 million and Sh100 million.

These include Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Democratic Movement, which will get Sh69.8 million, and Eugene Wamalwa's Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K), which is set to receive Sh30.62 million.

Mandera Senator Ali Roba's United Democratic Movement (UDM) will pocket Sh26 million, while Amani National Congress (ANC), which was formerly led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, will receive Sh25.75 million.

Other notable beneficiaries include National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula's Ford-Kenya with Sh25 million and former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi's Kenya African National Union (KANU), which is set to receive Sh23.26 million.

Compared to the previous financial year, UDA received Sh316 million, ODM Sh168 million, Jubilee Sh74 million, Wiper Sh39 million, and KANU Sh13 million.

 Smaller Parties' Allocation

Smaller parties will also benefit from the fund, though they will receive lesser amounts.

Former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi's Devolution Empowerment Party will get Sh13.3 million, while Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua's Maendeleo Chap Chap will receive Sh12.26 million.

Senate Speaker Amason Kingi's Pamoja African Alliance is set to receive Sh11.13 million, and Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri's The Service Party will get Sh10.2 million.

Other parties that will receive amounts below Sh10 million include David Ochieng's Movement for Democracy and Growth (Sh9.48 million), Kenya Union Party (Sh9.19 million), United Party of Independent Alliance (Sh8.8 million), United Progressive Alliance (Sh8.39 million), and Chama Cha Mashinani (Sh7.85 million).

Martha Karua's National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya and William Kabogo's Tujibebe Wakenya Party will each receive Sh7.3 million. Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana's Muungano Party will get Sh6.52 million, while Chama Cha Kazi, associated with  Moses Kuria,  a Senior Advisor in President Ruto's Council of Economic Advisors will receive Sh6.32 million.

 Parties receiving under Sh5 million

A number of smaller parties are slated to receive amounts below Sh5 million.

Charity Ngilu's National Rainbow Coalition is set to receive Sh4.98 million, while former Meru Governor Peter Munya's Party of National Unity will receive Sh4.3 million.

Other small beneficiaries include Chama Cha Uzalendo (Sh3.79 million), Busia Senator Okiya Omtatah's National Reconstruction Alliance (Sh3.29 million), and Progressive Party of Kenya (Sh3 million). Jimi Wanjigi's Safina Party will also receive Sh3 million.

Additional parties include National Agenda Party of Kenya (Sh2.16 million), Ubuntu People's Forum led by former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyajui (Sh1.93 million), Kenya National Congress (Sh1.79 million), and National Ordinary People Empowerment Union (Nopeu) at Sh1.3 million.

Others such as Federal Party of Kenya and Kenya Social Congress will receive Sh1.2 million and Sh1.17 million, respectively, with the Communist Party of Kenya set to receive Sh1 million. Smaller parties like Party of Independent Candidate of Kenya (Sh850,744), People's Trust Party (Sh815,527), and People's Empowerment Party (Sh809,941) are also listed among the beneficiaries.