Parties should show more from taxes

To say Kenya's democracy is not flourishing is an understatement. In fact, it has stagnated. And here's why: Parties, a key ingredient, have remained the bane of our democracy.

Ideally, political parties enhance democracy, not stymie it. Unfortunately, this has not been the case. When the Political Parties Act 2011 (that authorised the Exchequer to fund political parties was passed) the assumption was that this would reinforce the democratic culture that was taking shape in the country by discouraging briefcase parties and ensuring that parties stopped being properties of cartels that auctioned party nominations to the highest bidder. Most importantly, it was hoped that it would draw out the swamp of tribal, sectarian parties formed at the convenience of politicians.