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How to Register a Political Party in Kenya is as easy as any other task. The registration of political parties in Kenya is done at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) is a state office established under Article 260 of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010, and the Political Parties Act, 2011. The mandate of the office is to register, and regulate political parties and administer the Political Parties Fund (PPF).
However, it has been a multi-party system since 1992 and a ruling coalition normally consists of several parties. In some instances, many parties fold up to form one large party. Kenya had over 160 registered political parties as of November 2007
Steps; How to Register a Political Party in Kenya.
1. Application for Registration
To register any association of persons or organization as a political party, the applicant applies to the Registrar of Political Parties.
The Constitution and the Political Parties Act provides that a person disqualified from holding public office or belonging to another political party shall also not be a founding member of a political party.
Registration of a political party is a two-fold process which encompasses:
- Provisional registration
- Full registration
2. Provisional Registration
Once the application has been made to the registrar of political parties and upon meeting all the requirements. The party will be issued with a provisional certificate and will be provisionally registered.
Application for provisional registration of a proposed political party, among others, must be:
- Written Application: The application Must be in writing and signed by the applicants of whom not more than two-thirds shall be of the same gender;
- Minutes: Minutes of the first meeting of the founding members of the political party;
- Name of the Party: set out the name of the party;
- Symbol and Slogan: A request for the registration of the symbol and slogan of the political party;
- Abbreviation: if the party wishes to use an abbreviation of its name, set out that abbreviation;
- Party Constitution: The application should be accompanied by a copy of the Constitution and rules of the proposed political party which shall comply with the provisions of section 9;
- Statement of Ideology: The application should be accompanied by a statement of the ideology of the proposed political party;
- Party Website and Recruitment Process: The applicant will also avail presentation of the party website and membership recruitment demonstration; and
- Binding by the Act: Applicant should also include an undertaking to be bound by the Act and the Code of Conduct set out in the First Schedule.
- Prescribed fee: accompanied by the prescribed fee of Ksh. 100,000.
Here is a checklist for political party registration. Click here to Download.
Certificate of Provisional Registration
After the Registrar has verified that the party’s application for registration is complete, he or she will issue a certificate of provisional registration to the founding members within thirty days (30) of receipt of an application.
If the party is not eligible for provisional registration, the Registrar will indicate which requirements have not been met.
The information of the provisionally registered political party shall be entered in the provisional register for record keeping.
Lapse of Provisional Registration
The provisional registration of a political party shall lapse and a provisional registration certificate shall cease to have effect at the expiry of one hundred and eighty (180) days from the date of issue of the certificate of provisional
registration.
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Benefits of Provisional Registration
A provisionally registered party may carry out activities necessary so as to meet the requirements for full registration such as recruiting at least 1000 members in more than half of the counties and the establishing of
national party office and party branch offices in more than half of the counties.
3. Full Registration
Once a provisionally registered political party meets the conditions set in the act, it qualifies to be fully registered.
Application for full registration of a proposed political party, among others, must be:
- Written Application: An application in writing and shall be signed by an authorized official of the political party
- Minimum Membership: it has recruited as members, not fewer than one thousand registered voters from each of more than half of the counties;
- Inclusivity of Members: the members recruited must reflect regional and ethnic diversity, gender balance, and representation of special interest groups;
- Inclusivity of Officials: the composition of its governing body reflects regional and ethnic diversity, gender balance, and representation of special interest groups;
- Gender Rule: not more than two-thirds of the members of its governing body are of the same gender;
- Chapter 6 of the Constitution(Integrity): it has demonstrated that members of its governing body meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution and the laws relating to ethics;
- it has been submitted to the Registrar—
- a list of the names, addresses, and identification particulars of all its members;
- the location of its head office, which shall be a registered office within Kenya and a postal address to which notices and other communication may be sent;
- the location and addresses of the branch offices of the political party, which shall be in more than half of the counties;
- the disaggregated data of its membership based on each of the components of the special interest groups; and
- the address of the official website of the political party.
- Binding by the Act: Applicant should also include an undertaking to be bound by the Act and the Code of Conduct set out in the First Schedule.
- Prescribed fee; accompanied by the prescribed fee of Ksh. 500,000.
Withdrawing Application
At any time before registration, an eligible party may withdraw its application by sending a request to withdraw to the Registrar. The authorized official who signed the application must sign the request to withdraw the application
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Benefits of Full Registration
A fully registered political party enjoys several advantages including:
- being identified on the ballot with the candidates it endorses;
- considered for political party funding;
- receiving guaranteed broadcasting time.
- summon a meeting of members or officers of the political party.
- attend or make a person attend a meeting in the capacity of a member or officer of the political party.
- publish a notice or advertisement relating to a meeting of the political party
- and invite persons to support the political party.
Certificate of Full Registration
A political party is fully registered on the date of issue indicated on the certificate of full registration.
Roles of Political Parties in Kenya
Major roles of political parties include:
- Enhancing democratic participation through political mobilization by encouraging the public to participate in elections; and
- Formulating public policies,
- Recruitment and selection of political leaders.
(This post will be updated from time to time to remain current and upto date)
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