South Africa Politics Explained, Who Holds Power in 2026

Kenya's political landscape in October 2026 revolves around the question of whether President William Ruto will secure a second term on August 10, 2027. The distribution of power in Kenya is intricate, involving a president, a two-chamber Parliament, assertive courts, and 47 county governments. As of October 2026, Kenya's political scene is shaped by a president eligible for a second term, his allies from Raila Odinga’s party, and a divided opposition.

The president, both head of state and government, holds the position of commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defence Forces. There is no prime minister accountable to Parliament, and cabinet secretaries, numbering between 14 and 22, are appointed by the president and require approval from the National Assembly. Serving in the presidency is limited to two terms.

Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly and the Senate. The National Assembly, with 290 constituency members, 47 county women representatives, and 12 nominated members, along with a Speaker, plays a crucial role in safeguarding county interests and determining how national revenue is divided among the counties.

The Senate, comprising 47 elected senators, 16 nominated women, and four members representing youth and people with disabilities, focuses on protecting county interests and deciding the allocation of national revenue to counties.

Kenya is divided into 47 counties, each electing a governor and an assembly to manage devolved services like health facilities, ambulances, and county roads. This governance structure provides governors with real budgets. The broader context of Kenya's economy and regions can be found in the Rio Times guide, Kenya Explained.

William Ruto, who assumed the presidency on September 13, 2022, won the 2022 election on the ticket of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), his party. Previously serving as deputy president from 2013 to 2022 under Uhuru Kenyatta, Ruto is eligible for a second term. Born in 1966 in Uasin Gishu County, he is the only eligible individual for a second term.

Deputy President and UDA's deputy leader is Kithure Kindiki, who also served as interior minister in the August 2024 cabinet. Other key ministers include John Mbadi, in charge of the National Treasury, Kipchumba Murkomen at Interior, and Soipan Tuya at Defence. Dorcas Oduor serves as Attorney-General, responsible for advising the government on legal matters and serving as a cabinet minister.

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) receives the largest share of state funds for parties, with KSh 549.97 million (approximately US$4.2 million) allocated for the 2026/27 financial year. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), previously led by Raila Odinga, is the second-largest party with KSh 293.78 million (around US$2.3 million). ODM recently endorsed Ruto's broad-based government, with Oburu Oginga, Odinga’s brother and senator for Siaya County, now serving as the party's national chairperson.

The National Assembly, led by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah of UDA, guides government business. In a debate on October 1, 2026, an UDA member pledged to defend his seat under the broad-based government. Ruto encouraged UDA members to form alliances with other parties ahead of the 2027 election.

In a significant development, former president Uhuru Kenyatta, in a letter dated October 5, 2026, announced his resignation as coalition chair, handing the leadership of the Jubilee Party to former interior minister Fred Matiang'i. The Jubilee Party received KSh 128.86 million (about US$1.0 million) from the party fund. Kenyatta's resignation became official on October 22, 2026, following a party delegate approval process.

Raila Odinga, a former prime minister, passed away in India on October 15, 2025, at the age of 80. He was buried with President Ruto leading the mourners. Odinga's legacy and how Kenya plans to honor him are discussed in the Rio Times report on Odinga's legacy.