Influence of governance practices on the performance of political parties in Kenya

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 governance practices on the performance of political parties in Kenya. The objectives were to assess the effect of internal democracy, transparency, voter outreach and financial management on the performance of political parties in Kenya. The study adopted a mixed-methods approach. A descriptive research design was adopted. The study was conducted in Kenya, focusing on political parties that are representative of the national political landscape. The target population included selected party officials of the 30 main political parties in Kenya and the 47 county chief officers. 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. 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. To ensure validity, the research instrument was pre-tested in a pilot study involving 14 respondents from the other political parties. The questionnaires were distributed via a combination of physical delivery and electronic means. The data collected from the questionnaires 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. Inferential analysis specifically multiple regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between governance practices and political party performance. Qualitative data was analyzed thematically, with emerging themes categorized and interpreted 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 = 0.219, p = .003). 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 finds that transparency plays a statistically significant role in shaping political party performance (B = 0.175, p = .030), even though it is perceived as an area with several weaknesses. Voter outreach is moderately practiced and has a positive and statistically significant effect on party performance (B = 0.203, p = .016). Financial management emerged as the most influential factor affecting political party performance (B = 0.338, p = .000). The study recommends that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties should strengthen the enforcement of internal democracy standards, develop and implement compliance frameworks for financial disclosure and transparency and support the institutionalization of voter outreach standards. The political parties should institutionalize free, fair, and competitive elections for leadership positions, establish robust financial reporting systems and invest in outreach programs. 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 credibility, functionality, and democratic integrity of political parties in Kenya.