Cohesion or Collapse? The Role of Party Discipline in Shaping the Stability of Kenyan Political Coalitions

Abstract

Political coalitions and party dynamics have played a crucial role in shaping Kenya's journey, both before and after gaining independence in 1963. The political scene has often been marked by shifting alliances, which have led to instability and challenges in governance, impacting the lives of everyday citizens. This study takes a closer look at how coalition formations and party discipline have evolved in Kenya, particularly focusing on the influence of party discipline on political coalitions since 1945. The study was anchored on Social Exchange theory. The study was carried out in Kenya covering 18 counties within the study period. The study was founded on interpretivism research philosophy. Historical research design was used to guide the study. The target population composed of the ordinary voters, leaders of political parties, leaders of Civic organizations, local intelligentsia and experts on historical matters. The sample size was 454 respondents which was reached upon content saturation. This included a sample of 432 ordinary voters, 8 leaders of political parties, 6 respondents from civic organizations, 4 leaders from local intelligentsia, and 4 experts on historical matters. Purposive, snowball and convenience sampling techniques were used in the selection of the respondents. Primary data was collected using questionnaires, focus group discussion guides and interview schedules. Document analysis guide was used to collect both archival and secondary data. Qualitative data was analyzed based on themes and presented through narratives and verbatim quotations. The findings reveal that strong internal party coherence and discipline are vital for effective governance and meeting the needs of the public. The study concludes that the level of party discipline directly affects how political coalitions form and succeed in Kenya. To improve coalition effectiveness, the study recommends that political parties establish clear internal rules, promote inclusive decision-making, and strengthen their organizational structures.