In Kenya, political parties are cobbled up in the run-up to a General Election and act as special purpose vehicles which quickly decline and outlive their purpose once elections are over. Generally, Kenyan political parties are transient and cannot effectively influence meaningful national conversations especially across multiple electoral cycles. National characterThis varies from mature civil democracies where political parties that have national character, history and ideology strongly influence national political and development trajectories. Kenyans shall also begin to take political parties seriously and desire to participate in its leadership processes and the overall net effect in the long term being a strengthening of political parties through their continuous meaningful engagement beyond elections. With transcendent parties rising above cyclic electoral periods, tribal cocooning and personalities, Kenya shall join the ranks of states that have attained democratic deepening and consolidation.

Source: Standard Digital February 26, 2018 21:00 UTC