NAIROBI, November 28 – Political parties have 34 days left to comply with the Political Parties Act.
The Chairman of the Political Parties Act Implementation Committee Shem Balongo said on Friday that a 180-day notice of compliance given in July would not be extended.
Mr Balongo warned parties that failed to comply with the Act by December 31 that they would not be recognised once the notice expired.
He stated: “Contrary to what has been reported we have not considered extending the deadline because there is no justifiable reason. Any serious political party should have complied with Act by now so let nobody sit back.”
Electoral Commission of Kenya (ECK) Chairman Samuel Kivuitu had in September also indicated that the deadline would not be extended.
Mr Balongo spoke at the ECK offices where the Democratic Party (DP) of Kenya presented it papers to the Registrar of Political Parties, Lucy Ndung’u for full registration.
DP became the fourth party to apply for registration after the Labour Party of Kenya , Haroun Mwau’s PICK and Justice Minister Martha Karua’s Narc Kenya.
Receiving the application forms Ms Ndung’u said they would verify and confirm information contained in their applications before issuing them with certificates of registration.
“Certificates should be issued two weeks after a party applies for registration but that depends on how much we need to verify,” said Ms Ndung’u.
Section 44 of the Act allows parties to continue existing once they have lodged their applications. Ms Ndung’u expressed optimism that parties would comply with the Act to pave way for the professional management of political parties.
Once registered parties, will be expected to submit a declaration of assets and liabilities within 60 days.
The Act demands that a party must have at least 200 members – who are registered voters – in each of the 148 districts countrywide. In addition, the party must have national headquarters and offices in every district.
They are also required to pay a Sh500,000 registration fee besides having a national outlook with a third of officials being of an opposite gender.
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