By Omondi K’Oyoo
As Kenya’s political landscape braces for the pivotal Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) elections on November 6, 2025, one name is stirring both anticipation and debate—Dr. Augustus Kyalo Muli, the outspoken Party Leader of the National Liberal Party (NLP) and a frontrunner for the coveted position of PPLC Chairperson.
A Reformist with a National Vision
Dr. Muli, a seasoned politician and founder of the National Liberal Party, has long positioned himself as a principled reformist. His party, established in 2016 and aligned with the Azimio la Umoja Coalition, has consistently advocated for inclusive governance, institutional accountability, and grassroots empowerment.
Though he faced a setback in the 2022 Kitui County Assembly Speaker race, Muli has remained a vocal figure in national discourse, recently gaining traction with endorsements from influential groups such as the Agikuyu Council of Elders.
Now, as he sets his sights on the PPLC chairmanship, Muli is campaigning on a bold platform that seeks to revitalize the committee’s role as a guardian of Kenya’s multi-party democracy. He has pledged to transform the PPLC from what he calls a “lethargic and compromised” body into a vibrant, inclusive, and integrity-driven institution.
Challenging the Status Quo
Muli’s candidacy is anchored in a scathing critique of the current PPLC leadership, which he accuses of inaction, corruption, and dictatorial tendencies. He argues that the committee—established under Section 38 of the Political Parties Act, 2011, to foster structured dialogue between political parties, the Registrar of Political Parties, and the IEBC—has strayed from its mandate.
“The PPLC must not be a rubber stamp or a retirement home for political loyalists,” Muli declared at a recent press briefing. “It must be a forum of conscience, where all parties—big or small—have a voice in shaping Kenya’s democratic future.”
A Platform Rooted in Democratic Ideals
If elected, Muli promises to:
– Defend multi-party democracy against creeping authoritarianism
– Ensure equitable representation of all political parties in PPLC decision-making
– Institute transparency and accountability in committee operations
– Resist political capture and restore the PPLC’s independence
– Champion youth and marginalized voices within party structures
His campaign has resonated with smaller and emerging parties, many of whom feel sidelined in national political processes.
Muli’s NLP has also been vocal in criticizing the internal wrangles within the Azimio coalition, particularly over the IEBC selection panel, where he accused senior coalition figures of “hijacking” the process.
A Test for Kenya’s Democratic Institutions
The upcoming PPLC elections, scheduled during the national meeting from November 5 to 8, come at a critical juncture for Kenya’s democracy. With the 2027 general elections looming, the composition and leadership of the PPLC will play a key role in shaping electoral reforms, party conduct, and inter-party dialogue.
For Muli, this is more than a political contest—it’s a referendum on the soul of Kenya’s democratic experiment. “We must choose between a culture of silence and complicity, or one of courage and reform,” he said.
As the clock ticks toward November 6, all eyes will be on whether Augustus Muli’s reformist message can galvanize enough support to usher in a new era of principled leadership at the helm of the PPLC.
Omondi K’Oyoo is the Secretary General of the National Liberal Party and the MP candidate Kasipul 2025
