Malala: DCP doesn’t benefit from political parties’ funds
By Kiprono Keileb, April 9, 2026Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) deputy party leader Cleophas Malala has clarified that his party does not receive funding from the Political Parties Fund amid questions over why it has not made certain payments this year.
In a statement made during a political talk show hosted by a local television station on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, Malala responded to concerns raised about the party’s financial obligations, particularly on payments linked to artists.
He explained that the DCP does not benefit from public funding allocated to political parties, saying this limits its ability to meet some financial commitments expected of larger, funded parties.
Head of Presidential Special Projects and Creative Economy Coordination Dennis Itumbi asked why DCP has not paid royalties for musicians this year. Malala, who is the DCP deputy party leader, said that the party doesn’t benefit from political parties’ funds.
“The DCP party doesn’t benefit from the political party funds,” Malala said.
Conditions parties must meet
The clarification comes against the backdrop of strict legal requirements under Kenya’s Political Parties Act, which outlines the conditions parties must meet to qualify for public funding.
Under the law, parties must meet a defined electoral threshold, secure representation in elective positions, and maintain gender balance and inclusion of special interest groups within their leadership structures.
They are also required to be fully registered, maintain offices across at least 24 counties, and provide audited financial records to demonstrate accountability in the use of public funds.
In addition, eligible parties must submit formal applications for funding and maintain designated bank accounts to handle allocations from the Political Parties Fund.
Parties that fail to meet these requirements are not entitled to receive public funds, meaning they must rely on alternative sources to finance their operations. These include membership fees, voluntary contributions from supporters, and donations from lawful local sources, as long as they comply with regulations governing political financing.
The distribution of funds among qualifying parties is also guided by a structured formula, with the largest share allocated based on total votes received in the previous general election, followed by representation and inclusion metrics.