Maendeleo Chap Chap and Other Small Parties: Where They Won in 2017

Maendeleo Chap Chap won the Machakos governorship, 3 MP seats, 1 women rep seat, and 22 MCA seats. Beyond the two-party narrative, Kenya's small parties carved out real power in 2017.

When most people recall the 2017 election, they think of the Jubilee-vs-NASA battle, the Supreme Court nullification, and the Kenyatta-Odinga rivalry. But beneath the headline contest, a parallel story unfolded: at least 15 parties beyond Jubilee and ODM won significant elected positions, including governorships, senate seats, MP seats, and hundreds of MCA wards.

The most successful of these was Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC), the party of Alfred Mutua, then-Governor of Machakos County. But MCC was just the most visible example of a broader phenomenon: in Kenya's devolved system, local parties can win real power.

Maendeleo Chap Chap: The Most Successful Small Party

MCC's 2017 results were impressive by any measure, according to IEBC data:

• Governor: 1 seat (Machakos — Alfred Mutua re-elected)
• Members of Parliament: 3 seats
• Women Representative: 1 seat
• Members of County Assembly: 22 seats
• Total: 27 elected positions

MCC's strength was concentrated in Machakos County and surrounding Kamba-majority areas. The party's entire electoral footprint was essentially the personal political machine of Alfred Mutua, who had built a strong brand as a development-focused governor. His "Maendeleo Chap Chap" slogan ("development, quickly") resonated locally even when it had no national reach.

Other Notable Small Party Victories

Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU)

CCU won Mombasa's senate seat through Hassan Omar, making it one of the few small parties to win at the Senate level. The party also secured 1 MP seat and 1 MCA seat, giving it representation across three levels of government. CCU's Mombasa success reflected the Coast's willingness to vote for candidates outside the major coalitions.

National Rainbow Coalition (NARC)

NARC, the party that had brought Mwai Kibaki to power in 2002, won Kitui County's governorship through Charity Ngilu. It also secured 12 MCA seats. Ngilu's personal brand in Kitui kept NARC relevant more than a decade after its national peak.

Kenya African National Union (KANU)

The former ruling party won 8 MP seats, 2 senator seats, 2 Women Rep seats, 1 governor seat, and 37 MCA seats. KANU's wins were concentrated in Baringo (Gideon Moi's base) and Samburu, making it a regional party rather than a national one. For a party that ruled Kenya for 39 years, these numbers represent a dramatic decline.

Party of National Unity (PNU)

PNU, another legacy party, won 1 MP seat and 27 MCA seats. Its MCA strength suggests that the PNU brand still had local value in certain wards, even without national relevance.

Economic Freedom Party (EFP)

EFP won 4 MP seats, 1 Women Rep seat, and 17 MCA seats — a total of 22 positions. The party's strength was in specific regions where it served as an alternative to both Jubilee and ODM.

The Full Picture: Every Party Beyond Jubilee and ODM

When we add up all parties other than Jubilee (which won 772 positions across all levels) and ODM (which won 425), the remaining parties collectively won over 600 positions. This is a significant share of Kenya's elected government, as detailed by Daily Nation analysis.

Why Small Parties Win at the Local Level

Several factors explain small party success:

1. Personal brands trump party brands at the local level. Mutua's Machakos machine, Ngilu's Kitui network, and Gideon Moi's Baringo base are fundamentally personal, not institutional.
2. Major party nomination chaos. When Jubilee or ODM nominations are contested (sometimes violently), losing aspirants defect to small parties. Many MCC, PNU, and EFP winners were originally Jubilee or ODM hopefuls.
3. County assemblies favour fragmentation. With 1,450 wards, there is enough space for dozens of parties to find at least one ward where their candidate connects locally.
4. Coalition dynamics. Within NASA, parties like ANC, FORD-Kenya, and Wiper maintained separate identities. Their wins reflected intra-coalition agreements about which party would run in which area, particularly as documented by coalition agreements registered with the IEBC.

What This Means for 2027

Small party dynamics will be critical in 2027. Several scenarios could play out:

• If Kenya Kwanza fragments, Ruto-allied parties could split the Mt. Kenya and Rift Valley vote at local levels
• Kalonzo's Wiper remains the most likely third-force party, with 110 positions in 2017 as its baseline
• New small parties always emerge in the year before elections — expect 5-10 new players

Key Takeaways

1. MCC was the most successful small party: 1 governor, 3 MPs, 1 women rep, 22 MCAs
2. KANU won 50 total positions but was concentrated in Baringo and Samburu
3. At least 15 parties beyond Jubilee and ODM won significant positions in 2017
4. Small party wins are driven by personal brands and major party nomination failures
5. Independent candidates (126 wins) were collectively the third-largest force

For the full MCA landscape: 1,448 Wards and 41 Parties. For the KANU story: The KANU Factor.

Small parties win big at the local level. Votrack tracks results for every party across every position and county. Understand the full political landscape, not just the top two. Request a demo.