Parties that have been in politics for a long time in Kenya

Amid frequent party realignments and creations, several Kenyan political parties have managed to stay in the game for significantly longer than most. According to a recent infographic published by The Star, these durable organisations have become fixtures in Kenya’s political landscape — surviving waves of mergers, splits and election-year turbulence.
The piece highlights how many parties in Kenya tend to be organised around ethnic kingpins or short-term alliances tied to election cycles.
However, the infographic draws attention to a handful that have weathered the storms: enduring institutional identity, a national footprint (to varying degrees), and sustained operation across multiple election cycles. For example, one of the cited parties marked 20 years since its formation on the date of publication.
These parties present both the continuity and the challenge of Kenyan politics — showing that while new vehicles arise, some old names still matter.
Analysts say that the survival of these long-running parties reflects both their rootedness in particular communities and their ability to adapt to changing political conditions. At the same time, their persistence may signal limitations: the dominance of personality-based politics, weaker ideological differentiation, and perhaps insufficient renewal. As Kenya looks ahead to the 2027 general election, the presence of these established parties offers voters a familiar option — but also raises questions about whether new entrants and reform-oriented groups can mount credible challenges.
If you like, I can pull out five of those parties from the infographic, describe their origin, evolution and current status — and we can discuss how their longevity may affect the upcoming 2027 race.