MUGWE: Linda Mwananchi and the battle for residual control
This analysis uses the economic theory of 'residual rights of control' to explain the current power struggle within Kenya's Linda Mwananchi movement. It argues that ownership and decision-making authority are the core issues causing friction between political leaders.
Why it matters
It provides a theoretical framework for understanding why political coalitions often collapse when the distribution of power and authority remains ambiguous.
Linda Mwananchi leaders head to Jacaranda grounds for a rally on Sunday, September 13, 2026. /JAMES ORENGO/X
In 1919, the Fisher brothers signed a 10-year contract to supply closed car bodies to General Motors.
The arrangement required both firms to invest in assets that neither could easily redeploy elsewhere. Fisher built stamping dies and plants tailored to GM’s designs, while GM organised its production schedule around Fisher’s supply.
No contract, however carefully drafted, could specify every contingency the relationship would face. It could not fully anticipate what Fisher should charge if demand surged, how quickly GM’s designs might change or who should absorb the cost of retooling when they did.
For a time, the gaps in the agreement did not matter. Both firms gained more from cooperation than from testing the agreement’s limits.
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