The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is set to receive Ksh100,800,287 more money than the Orange Democratic Party (ODM) after the new review for the distribution of political party funds.
According to a gazette notice published on Friday, January 12, the Registrar of Political Parties noted that the budget cuts during Supplementary estimates had necessitated a review of the funds which were ultimately slashed.
"Registrar of Political Parties gives notice that Political Parties Fund (PPF) faced budget cut during Supplementary Estimates No. 1 of FY 2023/2024 which has necessitated a review of the distribution of the Fund."
“The following forty-eight (48) political parties will receive a revised allocation from the PPF during the Financial Year 2023/2024,” the notice reads.
UDA was allocated Ksh237,857,736 rather than Ksh576.9 million while the opposition party ODM will be receiving Ksh127,057,449 which was Ksh181.2 million less than the Ksh308.2 million allocated before.
Distribution of the funds was done in line with sections 23, 25 and 34 (b) of the Political Parties Act, 2011, and Regulation 6 (c) of the Political Parties (Funding) Regulations 2019, which states that the fund shall be allocated proportionately by reference to the total number of votes secured by each political party in the preceding general election.
The National Rainbow Coalition Kenya (NARC-KENYA) headed by Martha Karua, will receive Ksh3,115,272, the Jubilee Party (JP) has been allocated Ksh55,729,159 and the Wiper Democratic Movement (WDM) Ksh29,764,329.
Other notable political parties include Amani National Congress ANC allocated Ksh10,970,474, the Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) with Ksh13,041,565, United Democratic Movement (UDM) with Ksh11,079,709 and the Forum for Restoration of Democracy–Kenya (FORD KENYA) with Ksh10,657,992.
The Political Parties Act states that funds allocated to various parties should be at least 0.3 per cent of the revenue collected by the national government and any other lawful contributions towards the fund.
Further, political parties failing to attain specified qualifications for the fund will not be allocated.
"A political party shall not be entitled to receive funding from the Fund if it does not secure at least five per cent of the total number of votes at the preceding general elections, or more than two-thirds of its registered office bearers are of the same gender," the Act states.
The allocated funds will be disbursed upon receipt from the National Treasury at a later date.
