REVIEW OF POLITICAL PARTY DEMOCRACY IN KENYA

Kenya’s independence elections of 1963 were contested on multi-party democracy. Over fifty years later, political parties still revolve around personalities. It is difficult to distinguish the leading political parties by clear ideology. Consequently, consolidation of political party democracy in Kenya has been derailed. The purpose of this study was to establish the institutional deficiencies that have undermined political party democracy in pre and post independent Kenya. The researcher studied the country’s political history from various authoritative sources and noted in narrative form the events that influenced political party democracy in Kenya. The study found out that political party democracy in Kenya pre independence to 2010 when a new constitution was promulgated has been undermined by executive power excesses, negative ethnicity, and political corruption. The study recommended faithful and full implementation of the Constitution of Kenya 2010. Short of this, consolidation of political party democracy will remain elusive in Kenya.