Frenzy to register parties as 2027 politics intensify

The push to register political parties is gaining momentum ahead of the 2027 General Elections, as politicians continue seeking a vehicle to align themselves towards consolidating voters in their favour.

The pressure is mounting and building capacity among supporters is inevitable - those with political ambitions are mobilising, the best way they know how, by introducing new political vehicles into the ever-increasing competitive landscape.

Section 34 (e) of the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D obliges the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to maintain a register of political parties and the symbols of political parties.

In line with this provision, data from the ORPP shows that there are about 107 fully registered political parties in the country.

To apply for full registration of a proposed political party, it must, among other aspects, submit to the Registrar a list of the names, addresses and identification particulars of all its members, the location of its head office as well as the addresses of the branch offices of the political party, which shall be in more than half of the counties.

“Application for full registration of a proposed political party, among others, includes recruiting as members not fewer than one thousand registered voters from each of more than half of the counties, disaggregated data of its membership based on each of the components of the special interest groups; and 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 among others,” the ORPP rules provide.

In recent months, several political parties have been registered or revamped, with the latest entrant being former Kisii Governor James Ongwae, who has now unveiled the United Super Alliance Party (USAP).

Ongwae served as the Kisii Governor and, having served as the first county Chief Executive in 2022, he retired and was succeeded by the incumbent, Simba Arati but has since made a comeback as the USAP party leader.

When he was in active politics, he was in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the one-time chief campaign manager of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for about two years, running through to 2013, when he made the decision to go for the gubernatorial position.

“After that, I have been out here and maybe someone would ask why I have now decided to go back to politics. After being out for the last four and a half years, I've been able to see this country and its governance and so on, and I feel that I have a contribution to make,” he said as he launched the party in Nairobi.

The party, which was registered in October, has a slogan of "Tuko Macho" (We are alert) with a party symbol of an open eye to visually reinforce their vision, seeking to push philosophical pillars of human dignity, economy for all and ethical inclusion, drawing from African traditions of communalism.

“I have continued to observe, learn, engage with communities and reflect on the direction our country is headed. I feel that the next five years need a certain level of improvement in governance and I believe that that space needs to be filled; that is why I registered my own political party,” he said.

“Governance is not essentially related to the top leadership. It starts from the lowest levels, from members of the county assembly, Members of Parliament and all elective positions. If I can contribute to ensuring that the people who are given those positions are people who will be able to fight for Kenyans at all levels, that will be my job,” he told delegates in Nairobi.

The priorities revolve around grassroots mobilisation, membership recruitment and registration, leadership identification, institutional as well as policy development and development, the culmination of which will be a National Delegates Convention (NDC) before the year ends to deliberate on the way forward.

Although open to constructive engagements with political parties where there is common ground on principles of national interests, he says they need time before announcing a stand of the party before the NDC is held.

“It is a new party; you can't come in, you have not even met your national delegates, and start giving edits. It will become clear as I take over; I'll be able to talk to the people, and during the NDC, we will be able to be at the proper stand of it, on all matters, including even the type of alignments we want to be involved in. I'm focusing on this nation called Kenya, but naturally you must start from your own base,” he noted.

The push to participate in the next elections continues in earnest as more parties continue to be availed, with the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) already publishing critical timelines for political parties to observe.

For instance, political parties were required to have had their nomination rules certified by the Registrar of Political Parties by October 30 and submit them to the Commission by November 6.

Political parties are to submit their membership lists to the Commission by March 16, 2027 and the names of candidates contesting in their party primaries, together with the dates and venues of the primaries.

“All party primaries must be concluded and any intra-party disputes resolved by May 8, 2027,” IEBC rules state.

igithinji@standardmedia.co.ke