Mergers and Disintegrations: Political Party Alliance Building in Kenya Between 2002 to 2022

الملخص

This study explores the dynamics of political party alliance building in Kenya between 2002 to 2022 following the dissolution of the Kenya African National Union (KANU) as the dominant political entity. Employing a qualitative methodology, the research relies on interviews to gather primary data, providing an in-depth analysis of coalition formation and disbandment patterns in the post-KANU era.  The study argues that since 2002, each general election in Kenya has witnessed the emergence of new political parties and alliances, formed primarily to secure electoral victories. However, these coalitions are often short-lived, dissolving soon after elections due to internal disputes, personal ambitions, policy differences, and perceptions of betrayal among members. The paper also contends that political alliances in Kenya are largely transient, driven by immediate electoral goals rather than enduring ideological commitments. The fluid nature of these coalitions indicates that alliances are sustained only as long as they serve the interests of their members. Internal conflicts and personal interests frequently lead to fragmentation, prompting the formation of new alliances aimed at better fulfilling individual ambitions and ensuring political success. This continual cycle of coalition formation and dissolution underscores the dynamic and often unstable nature of Kenyan politics, where alliances survive only until ideological differences and personal interests lead to their disintegration