The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has confirmed that five political parties have exited the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition since the 2022 General Elections. According to an updated list of registered political parties and their respective coalitions, these departures occurred between February 2023 and December 2024, signaling shifting political alliances ahead of the next electoral cycle.
The five parties that left Azimio include the People’s Liberation Party (formerly Narc Kenya), Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Devolution Empowerment Party, and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA). These parties no longer belong to any coalition or coalition party but have working arrangements with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
The disclosure by ORPP follows a High Court directive mandating the publication of political party affiliations after a petition was filed by concerned citizens. The ruling comes at a time when confusion has arisen regarding which coalition holds the majority in the National Assembly.
A three-judge bench comprising Justices John Chigiti, Jairus Ngaah, and Lawrence Mugambi ruled that Azimio la Umoja remains the legitimate majority alliance in Parliament. The court found that Speaker Moses Wetang’ula acted unreasonably when he assigned 14 MPs from Azimio-affiliated parties to Kenya Kwanza, despite their resignation from the Raila Odinga-led outfit. The case was filed by advocate Ken Njagi, lawyer Lempaa Soyinka, and 10 other petitioners represented by Kibe Mungai.
Speaker Wetang’ula, however, maintained that Kenya Kwanza remains the majority in Parliament. He argued that Azimio currently has 154 MPs, while Kenya Kwanza commands 165 seats in the National Assembly. As a result, the leadership structure of the House remains unchanged, with Kenya Kwanza retaining its position as the majority party.
The Speaker further emphasized that the court did not explicitly declare any party as the majority or minority nor did it issue directives regarding the leadership positions in Parliament. This ruling followed a dramatic session in which opposition MPs occupied seats designated for the majority side, anticipating that the court ruling would override Wetang’ula’s earlier position.
The exits from Azimio and the ongoing legal battles over parliamentary leadership reflect the fluid nature of Kenyan politics. With the 2027 elections on the horizon, political parties continue to reposition themselves, making coalition dynamics a key area of focus for political stakeholders and analysts alike.
