Registrar to conduct aspirants’ sensitisation programme in 10 counties on Thursday

• Mar 16, 2022

Registrar to conduct aspirants’ sensitisation programme in 10 counties on Thursday

By Justus Karanja

The Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) will conduct a countrywide aspirants’ sensitisation programme on 17th March, 2022 across 10 regions.

The programme will be conducted at Flamingo Beach Resort in Mombasa, Semara Hotel (Machakos), Elborana Resort (Isiolo), Waterbuck Hotel (Nakuru), Tana Garden Hotel (Garissa), County Green Hotel (Bungoma), Agakhan Hall (Kisumu), Aberdares Country Club (Nyeri), Pride Inn Azure, Westlands (Nairobi) and Noble Hotel (Eldoret).

The areas of sensitisation will include amendment to the Political Parties Act 2011, elections timelines, aspirant’s requirements, ICT Reforms and other individual skills to enhance their capacity for the 2022 elections contest.

Meanwhile, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has clarified that two coalitions cannot enter into an agreement to form another unless both coalitions are collapsed to form one outfit.

According to Assistant Registrar of Political Parties Ali Abdullahi, the amended Political Parties Act, 2011 is clear on the process.

The clarification comes hot on the heels of a debate on the partnership that was entered between Kalonzo Musyoka-led One Kenya Alliance (OKA) and Azimio la Umoja coalition which is led by ODM leader Raila Odinga.

“Parties can sign a Memorandum of Understanding between themselves, but we will have to vet every agreement deposited in our office to ensure they comply with the law,” Ali said.

“A coalition cannot join another coalition, and a party can’t be a member of two coalitions, that is very clear in the law,” he added.

Ali made the clarification while appearing before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly.

Meanwhile, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has proposed to have the timelines on submission of party membership list to IEBC reduced to 90 days as opposed to the current 120 days.

IEBC argues that the current provisions provides for party hopping which the political parties amendment act is seeking to cure.