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The Ideology of Everything and Nothing

The Wobbly World of Kenyan Political Parties

By Morris Wambua

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Kenya's political landscape is a confounding jungle. In this thick jungle, there exists a peculiar breed of entities known as political parties. In other countries, these organizations might be grounded in philosophies, manifestos, and unwavering principles, but in Kenya, they appear more like chameleons on a disco floor—ever-changing, shimmering in the light of opportunity, and entirely devoid of ideological grounding. They are, to borrow a phrase from a wise elder, “neither here nor there.”

The Merry-Go-Round of Alliances
Kenyan political parties are renowned for their transient nature, but it is their ideological flimsiness that truly sets them apart. Take, for instance, the grand coalitions and fleeting marriages of convenience that are the hallmark of Kenyan politics. A politician may campaign on the virtues of "democracy" and "justice" while allied with one party, only to pivot to "development" and "inclusivity" under a new banner just months later. The ideologies, if they can be called that, are as interchangeable as the logos on campaign posters. In fact, it's entirely possible that the same politician could deliver a speech on “fighting corruption” while standing next to individuals whose corruption cases are as public as the potholes in our roads. But such is the nature of ideological flexibility, or rather, the lack of it.
The Politician’s Handbook: Principles on Sale

If one were to peek into the satchel of a typical Kenyan politician, one might expect to find pamphlets espousing deep ideological commitments. Instead, you’d likely discover something far more practical: a guide titled How to Stay Relevant: The Art of Ideological Flexibility. You see, in Kenyan politics, principles are less about belief and more about what’s up for sale. They are commodities, traded with the highest bidder for the most strategic advantage. Our politicians have perfected the craft of ideological entrepreneurship. Whether it’s socialism, capitalism, or some mishmash of the two, Kenyan political parties adopt and discard ideologies with the finesse of a hawker at Gikomba Market, switching from selling shoes to sunglasses depending on what the customer wants. It’s a marketplace of ideas, but with an emphasis on the “marketplace,” not the “ideas.”

Manifestos: A Collection of Copy-Pasted Clichés
Every election season, the Kenyan voter is presented with a buffet of manifestos, each purportedly more revolutionary than the last. Yet, these documents often read like recycled versions of each other, full of grand promises that are as vague as they are ambitious. It’s almost as if political parties in Kenya subscribe to a shared Google Drive, where they copy-paste the same tired platitudes about economic empowerment, youth employment, and national unity. The words may change, but the song remains the same. Consider, for example, the promise to eradicate corruption, a staple in every manifesto since independence. It’s the political equivalent of promising a sweet tooth child that candy is on the way, all while knowing that the nearest candy store is on another continent. Yet, election after election, these manifestos are presented with straight faces, as if the electorate has developed amnesia since the last round of promises. The sheer audacity of it all would be comical if it weren’t so tragic.
Parties Without Purpose

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To truly understand why Kenyan political parties lack ideological grounding, one must examine their origins. Unlike political parties in other democracies, which often emerge from movements or collective aspirations, Kenyan political parties tend to spring from the ambitions of individuals. A party is born not because of a shared vision for the country, but because a politician needs a vehicle to get to the next election. It’s less about changing the nation and more about changing their status from “aspirant” to “elected.” This lack of a unifying ideology means that political parties in Kenya function more like personal fan clubs than movements. Their primary purpose is to rally behind the “big man” at the top, whose whims and ambitions dictate the party’s direction. When the “big man”
defects to another party, his followers often follow suit, leaving behind a shell that quickly collapses. The party, without its patron, withers away like a flower without sunlight, only to be resurrected by another ambitious politician looking for a platform.

Coalitions of the Willing and the Willing-to-Switch
Kenyan political parties are notorious for their habit of forming and dissolving coalitions with the regularity of a soap opera plot twist. The country’s political landscape is littered with acronyms of defunct coalitions, each one more grandly named than the last. We’ve had the Jubilee Alliance, the National Super Alliance (NASA), and One Kenya Alliance (OKA), and Azimio, just to name but a few. Earthquakes come and go! Each coalition promises to be a unifying force for the nation, and each inevitably falls apart due to “ideological differences.” But we all know the truth: these differences are more about distribution of power than principle. The formation of a coalition is often a spectacle of hypocrisy. Politicians who were once bitter rivals suddenly become best friends, shaking hands and proclaiming their newfound unity with all the sincerity of a used car salesman. The electorate, meanwhile, is expected to believe that these new alliances represent the best hope for the nation, despite the glaring lack of any shared ideological foundation. It’s a masterclass in political theater, where the actors are more concerned with staying in the limelight than delivering a coherent performance.

The Ideology of Survival

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If there is one unifying principle among Kenyan political parties, it is the ideology of survival. In this game of thrones, the primary objective is not to advance a particular set of ideas, but to stay in power by any means necessary. This is why politicians can jump from one party to another, why coalitions can form and dissolve overnight, and why manifestos are treated as mere formalities. The only ideology that matters is the one that keeps you in office. This survivalist mentality explains why Kenyan political parties are so reluctant to adopt clear ideological positions. To take a stand on an issue is to alienate potential supporters, and in a system where ethnic
and regional affiliations often trump policy, alienation is a risk few politicians are willing to take. Instead, they prefer to keep their platforms deliberately vague, allowing them to appeal to as broad a base as possible. It’s a strategy of obfuscation, where ambiguity is the key to longevity.

When Ideology Becomes Inconvenient
In the rare instances when a Kenyan political party does adopt a clear ideological position, it often doesn’t last long. Ideology, after all, can be inconvenient when it gets in the way of political expediency. Take the example of a party that campaigned on an anti-corruption platform, only to find itself in power and suddenly needing to work with individuals who have, let’s say, questionable records. The solution? Simply downplay the anti-corruption stance, or redefine what corruption means. After all, in Kenyan politics, definitions are as fluid as alliances. This ideological inconsistency is further exacerbated by the fact that Kenyan politicians rarely face consequences for
their contradictions. A politician can rail against tribalism on one day, and then play the ethnic card the next, without so much as a blush. The electorate, weary and cynical, often shrugs it off as just another day in Kenyan politics. And so the cycle continues, with ideology treated as little more than a tool to be wielded or discarded as needed.
The Future of Ideological Grounding

As Kenya looks to the future, one must ask: will the country ever see political parties grounded in true ideology? The answer, sadly, is not encouraging. The current system rewards flexibility and penalizes conviction. Until there is a fundamental shift in how political power is pursued and maintained, Kenyan political parties will continue to be
characterized by their lack of ideological grounding. For now, the carousel spins on, with politicians hopping on and off, waving new flags but singing the same old songs. And the Kenyan electorate, ever patient and ever hopeful, watches the show, wondering if this time, maybe this time, things will be different. But deep down, we all
know the truth: in Kenyan politics, ideology is just a passing fad, and the only constant is the pursuit of power.
A Mirror to Ourselves

The ideological bankruptcy of Kenyan political parties is not just a reflection of the politicians who lead them, but of the society that allows it. We have become accustomed to the charade, so much so that we no longer expect better. We laugh at the absurdity, shrug at the contradictions, and vote along the same tired lines. Perhaps it is time for us to demand more, to ask not just what our politicians stand for, but why they stand at all. Until then, the merry-go-round will keep turning, and the ideology of everything and nothing will continue to reign supreme.










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