Liberal Democratic Party (Kenya)
Encyclopedia
The Liberal Democratic Party was a political party
in Kenya
.
In the general election held on 27 December 2002, the party was a partner in the National Rainbow Coalition
, which won 56.1 % of the popular vote and 125 out of 212 elected seats. The party itself took 59 of these seats. In the presidential election held on the same day, the party supported Mwai Kibaki
, who won 62.2 % of the vote and was elected.
Before 2002 the party had been an insignifanct splinter group which was joined by a large number of former KANU
members after the nomination of Uhuru Kenyatta
to be KANUs presidential candidate. Members of the former National Democratic Party NDP of Raila Odinga
which had joined KANU only in summer 2001 left the then ruling party together with KANU politicians who were opposed to what they perceived as imposition of Kenyatta as candidate by the then president Moi. After leaving KANU they didi not take the risk of attempting to register a new party under a government controlled by Moi but instead opted to join the existing LDP which offered them a space.
LDP then teamed up with the National Alliance Party of Kenya
(NAK) of Mwai Kibaki to form NARC which won the 2003 election with Kibaki as its presidential candidate.
Tensions developed soon as Kibaki did not honour a memorandum of understandíng signed between the partners in NARC and which envisaged a share of 50% of cabinett posts for LDP plus a new constitution which would curtail the power of the president and create the post of a prime minister which was to go to Odinga.
After the Kenyan constitutional referendum in 2005
LPD left the NARC-government. Instead, LDP and KANU formed a coalition known as Orange Democratic Movement
, later registered as a political party, ODM-Kenya. KANU later left the coalition only to join Party of National Unity
, a new coalition led by President Mwai Kibaki. Consequently, some KANU politicians including William Ruto
and Musalia Mudavadi
left KANU to stay with ODM-Kenya. ODM-Kenya, on the other hand, split into two parties, Orange Democratic Movement
(ODM) and ODM-Kenya. The former is led by Raila Odinga and the latter by Kalonzo Musyoka.
Thus LDP did not participate the 2007 general elections
as most of its members had either joined ODM
, while some joined ODM-Kenya
. Following the enfoeciong of the Political Parties act in December 2008, LDP ceased to be a registered political party.
LDP is an observer party at the Liberal International
.
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
In the general election held on 27 December 2002, the party was a partner in the National Rainbow Coalition
National Rainbow Coalition
The National Rainbow Coalition was a coalition of Kenyan political parties in power from 2002 and 2005 when it fell apart in a controversy between its wings about a constitutional referendum.-Formation:...
, which won 56.1 % of the popular vote and 125 out of 212 elected seats. The party itself took 59 of these seats. In the presidential election held on the same day, the party supported Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
, who won 62.2 % of the vote and was elected.
Before 2002 the party had been an insignifanct splinter group which was joined by a large number of former KANU
Kenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
members after the nomination of Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and MP for Gatundu South Constituency. He is the Chairman of Kenya African National Union , the former ruling party, which is currently part of the Party of National Unity...
to be KANUs presidential candidate. Members of the former National Democratic Party NDP of Raila Odinga
Raila Odinga
Raila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,...
which had joined KANU only in summer 2001 left the then ruling party together with KANU politicians who were opposed to what they perceived as imposition of Kenyatta as candidate by the then president Moi. After leaving KANU they didi not take the risk of attempting to register a new party under a government controlled by Moi but instead opted to join the existing LDP which offered them a space.
LDP then teamed up with the National Alliance Party of Kenya
National Alliance Party of Kenya
The National Alliance Party of Kenya is a political party in Kenya. The National Alliance Party of Kenya was formed on July 3, 2000 when people from varying background decided to form an alliance of democratic forces to work for the social, economic and political unity and welfare of Kenyan...
(NAK) of Mwai Kibaki to form NARC which won the 2003 election with Kibaki as its presidential candidate.
Tensions developed soon as Kibaki did not honour a memorandum of understandíng signed between the partners in NARC and which envisaged a share of 50% of cabinett posts for LDP plus a new constitution which would curtail the power of the president and create the post of a prime minister which was to go to Odinga.
After the Kenyan constitutional referendum in 2005
Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005
The 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum was held on 21 November 2005. The proposed new constitution was voted down by a 58% majority of Kenya's voters...
LPD left the NARC-government. Instead, LDP and KANU formed a coalition known as Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
, later registered as a political party, ODM-Kenya. KANU later left the coalition only to join Party of National Unity
Party of National Unity (Kenya)
Party of National Unity was founded as a political coalition of parties in Kenya. On September 16, 2007, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced the party formation and said that he would run as its presidential candidate in the December 2007 Kenyan elections...
, a new coalition led by President Mwai Kibaki. Consequently, some KANU politicians including William Ruto
William Ruto
William Kipchirchir Samoei arap Ruto is a Kenyan politician who was Minister for Higher Education until 19 October 2010 after being suspended for corruption. He is also one of the two deputy party leaders of the Orange Democratic Movement. He had previously served in the Ministry of Agriculture...
and Musalia Mudavadi
Musalia Mudavadi
Wycliffe Musalia Mudavadi is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Local Government.Mudavadi was born in Sabatia, Vihiga District...
left KANU to stay with ODM-Kenya. ODM-Kenya, on the other hand, split into two parties, Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
(ODM) and ODM-Kenya. The former is led by Raila Odinga and the latter by Kalonzo Musyoka.
Thus LDP did not participate the 2007 general elections
Kenyan general election, 2007
Kenyan general election, 2007 was held on 27 December 2007 . It comprised Presidential, parliamentary and civic elections. The previous general election in Kenya was held in 2002.-See also:*Kenyan presidential election, 2007...
as most of its members had either joined ODM
Orange Democratic Movement
Orange Democratic Movement refers to a political party in Kenya, which is the successor of a former grassroots people's movement which was formed in the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum. The erstwhile single party which separated in August 2007 into two...
, while some joined ODM-Kenya
Orange Democratic Movement–Kenya
Orange Democratic Movement-Kenya refers to a political party in Kenya, which originated as a result of the 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum...
. Following the enfoeciong of the Political Parties act in December 2008, LDP ceased to be a registered political party.
LDP is an observer party at the Liberal International
Liberal International
Liberal International is a political international federation for liberal parties. Its headquarters is located at 1 Whitehall Place, London, SW1A 2HD within the National Liberal Club. It was founded in Oxford in 1947, and has become the pre-eminent network for liberal parties and for the...
.