Influence of Internal Democracy on the Performance of Political Parties in Kenya

Erukudi Locha, Dr. Isaac Mukono Abuga

Abstract


Political parties are fundamental to the functioning of democratic systems, tasked with representing diverse societal interests and formulating policies that address national challenges. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of internal democracy on the performance of political parties in Kenya. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach. A descriptive research design was adopted. The target population consisted of key officials from the 30 top registered political parties in Kenya, specifically the party chairmen, secretary generals, and treasurers, and the 47 county chief officers. A census approach was employed where the entire population of 137 was used as the sample size. The primary research instrument for this study was a semi-structured questionnaire. The data was entered into Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) for analysis. Quantitative data was analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation. Simple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between internal democracy and political party performance. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically to provide deeper insights into the governance practices of political parties. The study found that internal democracy has a significant and positive impact on the performance of political parties in Kenya (B = 0.692, p = .000). The overall perception of internal democratic practices was neutral, with concerns about the consistency and depth of member participation in leadership selection and decision-making. The study recommends that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties should strengthen the enforcement of internal democracy standards. The political parties should institutionalize free, fair, and competitive elections for leadership positions. Party members and the electorate should engage more actively in internal party processes. The study offers valuable insights for political practitioners, policymakers, and scholars by highlighting the governance reforms needed to enhance the democratic integrity of political parties in Kenya.

Keywords: Internal Democracy, Performance, Political Parties


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