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MPs scrutinise proposals on conduct of political parties, independent candidates

Day Two of the ORPP consultative workshop with the Departmental Committee on Justice and Legal Affairs (JLAC) Photo: (X/ELGIA_Africa)

By Apollo Ochieng | Thursday, February 8, 2024

The recommendations contained in documents currently under scrutiny by the National Assembly's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee on Thursday gained momentum after the committee began the process of scrutinising the changes ahead of debate in the House this month.

Aspirants intending to contest as independent candidates may soon have it easy to obtain clearance from the registrar of political parties and the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).

This is after proposals by the office of the Registrar of Political Parties proposed changes to the Political Parties Act to smoothen the process and reduce time and clearance fees for independent candidates.

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The recommendations contained in documents currently under scrutiny by the National Assembly's Justice and Legal Affairs Committee on Thursday gained momentum after the committee began the process of scrutinising the changes ahead of debate in the House this month. The proposals are part of the 2022 Post-election Evaluation Report done by ORPP.

Committee chairperson George Murugara said that his team this week held a meeting with the registrar of political parties Anne Nderitu and officials from the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa regarding the proposed changes.

"The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee has held a consultative engagement with the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, and officials from the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa," Murugara said.

"The meeting sought to deliberate on legal reforms on the Political Parties Act, based on the Post-election Evaluation Report presented by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), which is currently working on the proposal of the Act," the Tharaka MP added.

In her proposals to the committee, Nderitu wants the application fees for independent candidates reduced to Sh5,000, the registration process automated and party nomination timelines reviewed to ease the registration process for candidates.

The registrar also wants timelines for the review of disputes arising out of party nominations revised, a review of electoral laws and the development of coalition political party regulations to allow for enforcement of coalition agreements by ORPP.

If adopted, the revised coalition political parties' agreements could end the quarrels witnessed within coalitions, including the recent wrangles within the Azimio la Umoja coalition involving splinter parties UDM, Jubilee, Pamoja African Alliance and others.

The proposals have also called for a review of electoral laws to delineate the role of ORPP vis-a-vis that of IEBC in the certification of the party nomination and election rules to avoid overlap.

"Other recommendations were to review the law to increase the time for the membership registers certification and on timelines for the conduct of party nominations to stop unsuccessful candidates from shifting to be independent candidates," said Nderitu.

"In addition, there is a need for full automation in the clearance of independent candidates and the use of technology in training and sensitisation of election agents," she added.