POLITICAL FUNDING ROW: Jubilee escalates legal battle over allocation of public funds to political parties
The Jubilee Party has moved to court accusing the government of failing to properly allocate money to the Political Parties Fund, setting the stage for another major legal and political showdown.
In court documents, the former ruling party argues that the state has consistently underfunded the constitutional fund meant to support political parties, weakening democratic competition and party operations across the country.
Jubilee claims the alleged shortfall has affected political parties’ ability to carry out activities such as civic engagement, administration and policy development.
The Political Parties Fund is legally supposed to receive a percentage of national revenue every financial year, with allocations shared among qualifying political parties based on electoral performance and representation.
However, Jubilee says the actual amount released by the government falls far below what is required under the law.
Party officials argue that continued underfunding threatens multi-party democracy by disadvantaging opposition and smaller political outfits.
The lawsuit comes at a time of heightened political tensions as parties begin repositioning ahead of future elections and national political realignments.
Analysts say the case could reignite debate about whether public institutions are being used fairly in Kenya’s competitive political environment.
Government officials have yet to publicly respond in detail to the accusations.
The court is expected to review Jubilee’s petition in the coming weeks as pressure mounts on the government to explain how the Political Parties Fund has been managed.
đź’¬ Discussion Prompt
Should the government increase public funding for political parties to strengthen democracy in Kenya?
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