The NASA (National Super Alliance) was the opposition coalition that contested the 2017 election against the Jubilee coalition, uniting multiple parties and ethnic constituencies under the presidential candidacy of Raila Odinga. NASA represented an attempt at cross-ethnic coalition-building centered on opposition to the incumbent Kenyatta government, incorporating Luo, Luhya, Kamba, and other constituencies that had historically aligned with opposition politics. The NASA coalition's formation and performance during 2017 reflected both the opposition's capacity to mobilize substantial voting blocs and the persistent challenges that opposition coalitions faced in consolidating diverse constituencies into unified political force capable of unseating incumbents.
The NASA coalition incorporated the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), led by Raila Odinga, as the dominant partner. The ODM provided the coalition's presidential candidate, organizational infrastructure, and primary identity. However, the ODM alone did not constitute a majority voting bloc, necessitating coalition partners to expand the opposition's reach into regions where the ODM lacked strong direct organizational presence. The coalition incorporated the Wiper Democratic Movement, led by Kalonzo Musyoka, which provided strength in Kamba regions. The coalition also incorporated Ford-Kenya, led by Moses Wetangula, which provided strength in Luhya regions. Additionally, the coalition included the ANC (Amani National Congress), led by Musalia Mudavadi, though Mudavadi's commitment to the coalition remained somewhat ambiguous and variable.
The NASA coalition's presidential ticket paired Raila (ODM, Luo) with Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper, Kamba) as running mate. This pairing was intended to unite the coalition's primary constituencies and to signal that a NASA government would represent multiple regional interests rather than being dominated by Luo interests exclusively. However, Kalonzo's prior experience as Vice President under Kibaki created ambiguity about his association with the previous regime that the NASA campaign criticized, potentially complicating the ticket's appeal among younger voters and those seeking change.
The NASA coalition's campaign messaging emphasized institutional accountability, anti-corruption commitments, and inclusive governance that would address regional inequality and historical marginalization. The NASA narrative contrasted with Jubilee's development-focused messaging, instead prioritizing justice, institutional reform, and political pluralism. The coalition argued that Kenyatta's first term had been characterized by corruption and institutional capture, and that a NASA government would restore institutional integrity and democratic accountability.
The NASA coalition faced coordination challenges common to multi-party opposition coalitions. The necessity of accommodating multiple parties with distinct interests, regional bases, and leadership structures created tensions regarding campaign messaging, resource allocation, and running mate selection. Additionally, some NASA coalition partners maintained ambiguous positions regarding whether their commitment to the coalition took priority over pursuing independent political strategies. Mudavadi's ANC, in particular, demonstrated inconsistent commitment to the coalition, creating uncertainty about the coalition's stability.
The August 8 election results indicated that NASA had captured approximately 45% of the presidential vote, a substantial showing but insufficient to overcome Jubilee's more concentrated regional voting patterns. The NASA results reflected the coalition's dominant support in opposition strongholds but also its failure to penetrate Jubilee's Central Kenya and Rift Valley regional bases. The regional divergence meant that the coalition's 45% support was distributed across geographically dispersed constituencies rather than concentrated in a limited number of regions, making it difficult to convert raw vote shares into political dominance.
Following the Supreme Court's nullification of the August 8 results, the NASA coalition faced crucial strategic decisions regarding the October 26 re-run. The coalition ultimately opted for boycott, a decision that proved significant in shaping post-2017 political dynamics. The boycott strategy reflected NASA's assessment that participating in a re-run administered by an unreformed IEBC would be politically counterproductive. However, the boycott also limited the coalition's capacity to consolidate its own supporters and to build political momentum for subsequent contests.
The NASA coalition's post-2017 trajectory was shaped by the handshake. Following Raila's March 2018 reconciliation with Uhuru, the NASA coalition's coherence fragmented. Some coalition partners, particularly Mudavadi and Wetangula, distanced themselves from Raila's handshake and began pursuing independent political trajectories. By the 2022 election, the NASA coalition had effectively dissolved, with its constituent parties either supporting the incumbent government or pursuing separate electoral strategies. The coalition's inability to sustain itself after the 2017 election reflected the fragility of opposition coalitions and the challenges of maintaining coalition unity across electoral cycles.
See Also
2017 Election 2017 Election August 8 Vote 2017 Election Raila Boycott 2017 Election Jubilee Campaign 2017 Election Results
Sources
- Wanyande, Peter. (2017). NASA Coalition and Opposition Politics in Kenya's 2017 Election. Kenya Institute for Public Policy Research and Analysis.
- Cheeseman, Nic and Lynch, Gabrielle. (2015). The Politics of the Ballot in Kenya. Oxford University Press.
- International Crisis Group. (2017). Kenya's 2017 Election: Coalition Dynamics and Political Crisis. Retrieved from https://www.crisisgroup.org/