In the early 2000s, Kenya was widely seen as a beacon of democratic hope in East Africa. Multi-party elections, vibrant media, and a robust civil society energized a population yearning for change after years ofautocratic rule. But fast forward to 2025, and a different picture emerges — one of democratic backsliding, institutional decay, and growing public disillusionment.
Kenya’s democracy is not dead, but it is in trouble.
Checks and Balances Are Eroding
The most glaring sign of democratic decline is the blurring of lines between the ruling party and the opposition. In March 2025, President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) entered into a political pact with Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a move framed as a gesture of national unity but widely criticized as a power-sharing arrangement that weakens accountability.
Kenya’s democracy has always thrived on healthy political contestation. By co-opting the opposition into government, the space for checks and balances is shrinking. Parliament, once a critical oversight body, is increasingly seen as a rubber stamp for executive decisions.
Crackdowns on Dissent and Civil Liberties
A more alarming trend is the state’s aggressive stance on dissent. In 2024 and early 2025, a series of youth-led protests sparked by a controversial finance bill that introduced steep tax hikes were met with excessive force. Several young activists were abducted, detained without charge, or harassed online and offline.
Even satire has become dangerous. Social media users mocking the president or senior officials have faced threats and arrests. Kenya’s vibrant digital culture — once celebrated for political engagement is now a battleground where freedom of expression hangs in the balance.
The Youth Are Disillusioned
Kenya’s Gen Z, who once saw democracy as a vehicle for change, now view it with skepticism. Many feel excluded from decision-making and are disillusioned by a political class that recycles the same elites and dynasties.
Young people are organizing outside traditional party structures through online platforms, community-based networks, and spontaneous protests. But without meaningful reforms, many are left wondering whether their voices will ever be heard through conventional democratic channels.
State Capture and Elite Bargains
Behind the scenes, Kenya’s political economy is increasingly shaped by elite bargains and opaque deal-making. Public contracts, state appointments, and legislative decisions are often determined not by merit or public interest but by political allegiance and patronage.
Corruption remains endemic. The judicial system, while occasionally assertive, is under political pressure. Independent institutions like the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) struggle to assert their autonomy.
A Hollowed-Out Democracy
Kenya still holds elections. Political parties still campaign. The media is still active. But these are hollow rituals if they do not lead to real representation or accountability.
As democracy becomes more performative than substantive, citizens are left with the form of democracy but not its function. The risk is that more Kenyans especially the young — may abandon the democratic project altogether in search of alternatives.
What Can Be Done?
Kenya’s democratic decline is not inevitable. Civil society remains active. Courts have shown flashes of independence. Youth-led movements are pushing boundaries. But to halt and reverse the slide, bold actions are needed:
- Strengthen institutional independence especially the IEBC, judiciary, and parliament.
- Reform campaign financing laws to level the playing field for new entrants.
- Protect freedom of expression both online and offline.
- Create platforms for genuine youth participation in policymaking.
Ultimately, democracy is not just about elections it’s about justice, inclusion, and accountability. Kenya is at a crossroads. The direction it takes next will define the kind of nation it becomes.
