Understanding the foundations of KANU and KADU is key to grasping how Kenya became a one-party state. These parties represented different communities, with KADU eventually accepting KANU's demands after independence. This strengthened KANU's dominance in Kenyan politics.
The Kenya African National Union (KANU) and Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) were the major parties that formed Kenya's first independent government and its opposition. KANU represented politically and economically strong communities such as Kikuyu, Luo, and Akamba, formed mainly by an emerging middle class of farmers. KADU, on the other hand, drew strength from less empowered groups, including Kalenjin, Luhya, Arabs, and coastal Mijikenda.
On June 25, 1960, KADU convened in Ngong, pledging to protect these communities' interests against KANU's proposed centralization policies. KADU received support from white settlers aiming to preserve land ownership structures in the White Highlands. Land issues were central to independence negotiations, with internal KANU divisions between those favoring radical land redistribution, like Oginga Odinga and Bildad Kaggia, and those wanting to maintain large farms, such as Jomo Kenyatta, Tom Mboya, and Daniel Moi.
Smaller communities were represented by minor parties like the Maasai United Front and Kalenjin Political Alliance, fearing land loss. The 1963 General Election confirmed KANU's popularity, though it lost some seats. After independence, Jomo Kenyatta became the first African Prime Minister in a KANU-KADU coalition government. Eventually, KADU accepted some KANU demands, and KANU remained united despite internal differences between leaders like Mboya and Odinga. This prevented KADU from gaining strength even during KANU's potential splits.