How did the Kenya African National Union differ from the Kenya African Democratic Union?

The Kenya African National Union (KANU) and the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) were the two primary political parties formed in 1960 to prepare for Kenya's independence. Their fundamental differences centered on the structure of the new government and the representation of ethnic interests.12

• Governance Structure: KANU, led by Jomo Kenyatta, advocated for a strong, centralized government. In contrast, KADU, founded by Ronald Ngala and Daniel arap Moi, argued that a decentralized government was necessary to protect the interests of various ethnic groups.12
• Ethnic Concerns: KADU was specifically concerned about the potential for Kikuyu domination within a centralized system, fearing that a strong central authority would marginalize other groups.2

While the two parties formed a coalition government in 1962 to facilitate the transition to independence, KANU ultimately prevailed in the 1963 elections. Following independence, most KADU members transferred their allegiance to KANU, and the party was absorbed into the ruling organization, effectively ending its existence as a separate entity.12