The Registrar of Political Parties has confirmed that at least five parties exited the Azimio la Umoja Coalition following the 2022 general elections.
According to an updated list of registered political parties and their coalition affiliations, these parties withdrew between February 2023 and December 2024. The parties include the People’s Liberation Party (formerly Narc Kenya), Maendeleo Chap Chap, the United Democratic Movement (UDM), the Devolution Empowerment Party, and the Pamoja African Alliance (PAA).
This disclosure follows a High Court directive mandating the public release of political party statuses after a petition was filed by concerned citizens.
The revelation comes amid ongoing debate over a recent court ruling that declared Azimio as the majority party in Parliament. A three-judge bench—comprising Justices John Chigiti, Jairus Ngaah, and Lawrence Mugambi—ruled that the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance remains the legitimate majority in the National Assembly.
The court criticized Speaker Moses Wetang’ula’s decision to classify 14 MPs, who had resigned from Azimio, as part of Kenya Kwanza. The case was filed by Ken Njagi, advocate Lempaa Soyinka, and 10 others, represented by lawyer Kibe Mungai.
Wetang’ula had argued that several MPs from Azimio had formally notified his office of their disassociation from the Raila Odinga-led coalition. The defectors included 14 legislators from four parties: UDM, Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG), Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC), and PAA.
The updated records indicate that these parties are currently unaffiliated with any coalition but maintain working arrangements with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance. Additionally, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) lists 47 political parties as unaffiliated and without representation in the National Assembly.
On February 12, Speaker Wetang’ula reaffirmed that Kenya Kwanza remains the majority coalition in Parliament, despite the court ruling. His statement followed a dispute in the House, where opposition MPs occupied majority party seats in anticipation of the ruling’s implementation.
Wetang’ula clarified that Azimio holds 154 MPs, while Kenya Kwanza has 165, asserting, “Kenya Kwanza is the majority, Azimio is the minority. The leadership of the House remains unchanged.”
He further emphasized that the court did not explicitly declare any party as the majority or minority, nor did it determine the leadership of either side.
