UDA, ODM bag lion's share of Sh1.4bn political parties fund

President William Ruto's UDA and ODM will take home the lion's share of the Sh1.4 billion Political Parties Fund (PPF) for the 2026/2027 financial year, according to a gazette notice by the Registrar of Political Parties.

The ruling UDA party, led by President Ruto, tops the list with Sh549,970,254, approximately 39 per cent of the total allocation.

ODM, now under the leadership of Dr Oburu Oginga following the passing of veteran opposition leader Raila Odinga, comes a distant second with Sh293,779,882, representing about 21 per cent of the fund.

Together, the two parties will consume nearly Sh844 million, or roughly 60 per cent of the entire fund. The money is, however, much less than what the parties received in the 2026/2026 financial year.

The two parties received a total of Sh1.2 billion in the last financial year, with UDA getting Sh789 billion and ODM Sh431 billion, although the then ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifina repeatedly complained that over 500 billion was not disbursed to the party.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party ranks third with Sh128,855,930, down from Sh184 billion last time. Kenyatta remains the party's leader and has been actively involved in its affairs despite having retired from elective politics.

Wiper Patriotic Front, led by Kalonzo Musyoka, follows with Sh68,820,531, which is 30 million less than what they received previously.

The funds are shared based on a legal formula under the Political Parties Act, which factors in total votes secured and number of elected representatives. A small percentage (5%) is retained for fund administration.

The next tier features a mix of historic vehicles and emerging regional outfits.

Democratic Action Party-Kenya, led by Eugene Wamalwa, will receive Sh30,154,465, while the United Democratic Movement, takes home Sh25,618,298.

Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang'ula's Ford-Kenya is allocated Sh24,643,211, and the Kenya African National Union, led by former Baringo Senator Gideon Moi and once the country's sole ruling party, will receive Sh22,908,217.

Amani National Congress, historically led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi but currently embroiled in a leadership dispute, is listed for Sh25,365,726, while Pamoja African Alliance, under Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, gets Sh10,960,315.

The Devolution Empowerment Party receives Sh13,130,858, Maendeleo Chap Chap, led by Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, secures Sh12,076,051, and The Service Party, associated with former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri, is allocated Sh10,056,632.

A sprawling list of smaller parties will share the remainder, with allocations ranging from over Sh9 million to as low as Sh263,933.

Movement for Democracy and Growth gets Sh9,341,386, the Kenya Union Party Sh9,057,116, and the United Party of Independent Alliance Sh8,688,182, while the United Progressive Alliance takes Sh8,267,669.

Chama Cha Mashinani is allocated Sh7,733,276, Tujibebe Wakenya Party Sh7,224,716, and Martha Karua's Peoples Liberation Party Sh7,203,075. Muungano Party receives Sh6,424,613, Chama Cha Kazi Sh6,225,718, and the Democratic Party of Kenya, historically linked to the late President Mwai Kibaki, gets Sh5,227,274, while the United Democratic Party takes Sh5,122,711.

The National Rainbow Coalition, founded by the late Kibaki, secures Sh4,910,505, and the Party of National Unity takes Sh4,250,837.

Chama Cha Uzalendo gets Sh3,739,793, the National Reconstruction Alliance Sh3,240,361, and the Progressive Party of Kenya Sh3,004,684, while Safina Party receives Sh2,991,379.

At the lower end, the National Agenda Party of Kenya takes Sh2,131,453, Ubuntu People's Forum Sh1,905,097, and Kenya National Congress Sh1,765,336.

The National Ordinary People Empowerment Union gets Sh1,288,800, the Federal Party of Kenya Sh1,198,785, and Kenya Social Congress Sh1,159,783.

The Communist Party of Kenya is allocated Sh997,969, followed by the Party of Independent Candidate of Kenya at Sh837,759, the People's Trust Party at Sh803,080, and the People's Empowerment Party at Sh797,579.

The Peoples Democratic Party gets Sh757,395, Shirikisho Party of Kenya Sh654,585, and Mabadiliko Party of Kenya Sh608,084.

Green Thinking Action Party takes Sh555,169, Maendeleo Democratic Party Sh554,592, and Kenya African Democratic Union-Asili Sh457,260.

The Grand Dream Development Party receives Sh444,677, while the Justice and Freedom Party of Kenya brings up the rear with Sh263,933.

The allocations are contained in Gazette Notice No. 13697, issued under Sections 23, 25 and 34(b) of the Political Parties Act (Cap. 7D) and Regulation 6(1)(c) of the Political Parties (Funding) Regulations 2019.

Section 23 of the Act establishes the Political Parties Fund, administered by the Registrar.

Under Section 25, 95 per cent of the Fund is distributed proportionately based on the total number of votes each party secured in the preceding general election, while 5 per cent covers administration expenses.

Additional criteria allocate portions based on elected special interest groups and total representatives elected.

Political analysts note that the overwhelming dominance of UDA and ODM illustrates the phenomenon of "home capture" where the fund disproportionately flows to the biggest parliamentary blocks, entrenching the incumbent's advantage and making it nearly impossible for smaller, newer parties to build a war chest organically.

Because UDA controls the National Assembly majority and ODM commands significant numbers in both houses, their statutory allocation inevitably dwarfs that of regional players.

Section 34(b) empowers the Registrar to administer the Fund and make allocations accordingly.

The notice lists 48 political parties as eligible, a striking development given that some of the parties named had previously announced their dissolution or merger into UDA.

ANC formally dissolved and merged into UDA in January 2025, with Mudavadi urging supporters to join the ruling party.

However, the High Court ruled in January 2026 that the dissolution was "unlawful, unprocedural and unconstitutional".

Stephen Mutoro has since installed himself as interim ANC party leader, contesting Mudavadi's authority.

Despite the legal battle, ANC is listed to receive Sh25,365,726. Similarly, PAA "folded" under pressure from UDA and announced it would not field candidates in 2027, yet it appears on the list with Sh10,960,315.

This comes as eligibility for the fund is determined by performance in the last General Election (2022) and parliamentary representation, not current operational status.

Parties retain their entitlement until the Registrar formally de-registers them under Section 20 of the Act, a process that remains pending for both entities.

The Registrar of Political Parties, John Cox Lorionokou, signed the notice dated August 17, 2026. The funds will be disbursed quarterly upon receipt from the National Treasury.

The Standard could not immediately obtain a response from the Registrar of Political Parties by press time.