Ukambani politics faces shake-up as National Liberal Party expands influence

For decades, Ukambani politics has largely been dominated by parties associated with influential leaders such as Kalonzo Musyoka and Charity Ngilu. However, recent compliance concerns raised against their respective parties have created an opening that emerging political formations are now seeking to exploit.

At the center of the unfolding developments are the Wiper Patriotic Front and the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), both of which face the possibility of deregistration for failing to meet constitutional requirements governing political parties in Kenya.

A recent audit by the Office of the Auditor-General (Kenya), led by Nancy Gathungu, flagged several political parties for failing to demonstrate a national presence as required by law. According to the report, some parties had not established functional offices across the country’s 47 counties and were unable to provide evidence of sustained political activity outside their traditional strongholds.

The audit specifically cited Wiper and NARC for lacking adequate county structures, raising questions about their compliance with provisions that require political parties to maintain a national outlook.

The scrutiny also extended to the United Democratic Party (Kenya) and the Mabadiliko Party of Kenya, which were similarly flagged for failing to demonstrate operational offices in several counties and limited engagement with members at the grassroots level.

Political analysts say the findings could trigger increased oversight by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (Kenya), the body mandated to ensure political parties comply with constitutional and statutory requirements. Any enforcement action could have far-reaching implications for the political balance in Ukambani and beyond.

Against this backdrop, the National Liberal Party has moved quickly to position itself as a viable alternative in the region. Party leaders say they are intensifying grassroots mobilization efforts and expanding party structures in Ukambani as they seek to broaden their political base ahead of the next electoral cycle.

The party, led by Augustus Muli, has in recent months embarked on a nationwide recruitment campaign aimed at strengthening its organizational footprint. According to the party’s leadership, the National Liberal Party currently has more than 25 county offices across the country and a membership approaching one million.

With compliance pressure mounting on long-established parties, observers say the coming months could determine whether Ukambani’s political order remains intact or gives way to new contenders seeking to reshape the region’s political future.