How Young Kenyans Can Form and Register a Political Party

A political party is an association or group of people organized who has same political ideas goals and want to ascend and maintain power through elections.

All applications of political parties in Kenya are channelled to the Registrar of Political Parties.

Political parties are vital in enhancing democratic participation through political mobilization to influence the public to participate in elections.

The also help in formulating public policies, recruitment and selection of political leaders.

However, the Constitution and the PPA states 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.

Political parties are registered in two ways;

1. Provisional Registration

This process requires the following aspects,

Proposed political party should be written and signed by the applicants of whom not more than two-thirds shall be of the same gender.

Include signed minutes of the first meeting of the founding members of the political party.

Set out the name of the party.

Include a request for the registration of the symbol and slogan of the political party.

If the party wishes to use an abbreviation of its name, set out that abbreviation.

Be accompanied by a copy of the Constitution and rules of the proposed political party which shall comply with the provisions of section 9.

Be accompanied by a statement of the ideology of the proposed political party.

Presentation of party website and membership recruitment demonstration.

Additionally, include an undertaking to be bound by this Act and the Code of Conduct set out in the First Schedule and be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

A party that has been provisionally registered must apply for full registration, within 180days from the date of provisional registration. A provisionally registered political party is qualified to be fully registered if meets conditions set in the Act.

Also Read:Last Moments of Kenyan Politician Who Went Missing 5 Days Ago

2. Full registration

Full registration of political party should meet the following demands;

Application for full registration of a proposed political party, among others must be:

It has to be written and signed by an authorized official of the political party

It has recruited as members, not fewer than one thousand registered voters from each of more than half of the counties.

The members referred to in paragraph (a) reflect regional and ethnic diversity, gender balance and representation of special interest groups.

The composition of its governing body reflects regional and ethnic diversity, gender balance and representation of special interest groups.

Not more than two-thirds of the members of its governing body are of the same gender.

It has demonstrated that members of its governing body meet the requirements of Chapter Six of the Constitution and the laws relating to ethics.

Also Read:Ruto Appoints News Registrar of Political Parties, KNCHR Chairperson and Ambassadors

What Should be 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.

Include an undertaking to be bound by this Act and the Code of Conduct set out in the First Schedule; and be accompanied by the prescribed fee.

Follow our WhatsApp Channel and WhatsApp Community for instant news updates