In this month alone, seven new political parties have been issued with provisional registration, while another five are also in the process of being registered.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), in a notice, revealed that it provisionally registered Peoples Forum for Rebuilding Democracy (PFRD), Imarisha Uchumi Party (IUP), African Development Congress (ADC) and Kenya Ahadi Party (KAP) in the month of March.
Others are National Economic Development Party (NEDP), Forum for Economic Development Agenda (FEDA) and Kenya United Generation Party (KUG).
In the ORP record, FEDA has listed Stephen Tinga, Lucy Wambui, William Keloi, Christine Ndegwa, Benard Koskei and Risper Awuor as its founder members while TFP has listed Mercy Chiluyi, Benerd Mutie, Jesse Thuo, Deolata Ngatho, Diana Kemunto, Ibrahim Moses, Daniel Mwangi, Eunice Barasa, Imelda Nyongesa, Robinson Makokha, Annastacia Jelimo, Francis Maina and Eric Wanyama as its founder members.
Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
KUG has listed Jared Nyabuto, Sammy Mwanyaa, Sharon Jepkorir, Fredrick Wafula, Purity Mumbe, Vicky Chebet, Hezbon Oluoch, Cynthia Wangui, Joshua Mwonga and Frejustus Kiima as its founder members.
Further, Registrar of Parties Anne Nderitu has also issued a seven-day notice before she can issue a provisional registration to five other new parties. The parties include United Patriotic Movement (UPM), Party for Democratic Reforms (PDR), Alliance for Democratic Association (ADA), The Inclusive Party (TIPTIP) and Conservation of Democracy in Kenya (COD-K).
According to ORPP, UPM has Chrispinus Aleri, Sarah Lozi Jabiri, Jackson Ndege Ongige, Monicah Muchite Shilisia, Fai Tundai, Hezron Ligwilu Maina as its founder members, while PDR has listed Robert Onsumo, Hodovia Njoroge and Lynet Makaka as its founders.
ADA founder members are Steve Nzivo Kilonzo, Margaret Nyawina Waka, Linet Njeri Mbuthia and Benard Kipruto Segecha, while TIPTIP has been founded by Komen Sally Jemutai, Grace Karen Akinyi and Kioko Judah Kiio. COD-K has been founded by Fredrick Asira, Edward Waswa, Basil Jabuto, Julia Ngeiywa, Betty Nyakara and Diana Wambui.
Exchequer billions of shillings for political parties and the desire to enter a coalition as a principal have been linked to the latest rush to register new political parties.
Some individuals, who may not be interested in running for political offices, are also in the latest craze to enlist new outfits with plans of selling them in the run-up to the 2027 General Elections.
Selling and buying of political parties have since become a booming business, mostly because of fears by politicians of being rigged out in party primaries.
Some top political leaders have also in the past ended up party-less after rival factions took off with party certificates. Some of these incidents have forced ambitious politicians to have their own political party to secure their election tickets and for purposes of negotiating for coalitions.
The billions of shillings for political parties have also made running a political party a lucrative business. At least 48 political parties that participated in the 2022 elections are benefiting from the millions of taxpayers’ money to run their affairs.
Dozens of parties that have never benefited from millions of shillings disbursed by the exchequer have, for the first time after the 2022 elections, received the monies, making the running of political parties a lucrative business. This was after the changes to the Political Parties Act.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
The Act provides that 70 per cent of the money be distributed proportionately, based on the total number of votes secured by a political party in the preceding election.
Another 15 per cent is to be distributed proportionately to parties based on the number of candidates from special interest groups elected in the preceding General Election.
Ten per cent shall be shared out proportionately to parties, based on the number of representatives from the party elected in the preceding General Election while the remaining five per cent is for administration expenses by the ORPP.
The provision implies that any political party that participates in a General Election stands to benefit from the funds, based on the number of votes attributed to its candidates, even if a majority of them lose at the ballot.
Mr Gachagua has also publicly regretted why he did not form a political party before joining hands with President Ruto.
The country currently has a total of 90 fully registered parties. Out of these, only 48 parties actively participated in the 2022 General Election, according to ORPP gazette notice on allocation of the Political Parties Fund.
