Kenya is witnessing a rapid increase in the registration of new political parties, as political players gear up for the next general election in 2027. According to the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, her office has received hundreds of requests for party name reservations since the 2022 elections, highlighting the shifting political landscape.
Between December 2023 and January 2024 alone, at least 45 applications for party registration were reviewed by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP). While some parties have received provisional registration, only a few have progressed toward full registration, a process hindered by stringent requirements.
Nderitu explained that the introduction of the Integrated Political Parties Management System has tightened registration procedures, ensuring that individuals are not enlisted in political parties without their consent. Previously, parties could register members without their knowledge, but now, any attempt to enroll a person triggers an SMS notification requiring verification.
To attain full registration, a political party must recruit at least 24,000 members, including at least 1,000 registered voters from more than half of Kenya’s 47 counties. This requirement has slowed down the process for many aspiring parties.
Since 2022, seven parties have received provisional registration, including The We Alliance Party (TWAP), Peoples Forum for Rebuilding Democracy (PFRD), Imarisha Uchumi Party (IUP), and the African Development Congress (ADC). Others include the Kenya Ahadi Party (KAP), Democracy for the Citizen Party (DCP), and the National Economic Development Party (NEDP). Of these, only TWAP and DCP have applied for full registration.
The increase in party registrations signals a period of intense political realignment in Kenya. As major political figures strategize for 2027, the emergence of new parties could reshape coalitions and alliances. Already, high-profile individuals, including former aides to prominent politicians, are involved in forming new political outfits.
Currently, Kenya has 101 fully registered political parties, with more in the pipeline. Some of the recently reserved party names include Freedom and Opportunity Party (FOP), Solidarity for Change (SFC), and Party for Economic Recovery (PER), among others. These new outfits, if fully registered, could play a critical role in influencing political discourse ahead of the next elections.
With the road to 2027 taking shape, the battle for political dominance is intensifying. The surge in party registrations reflects not only a growing appetite for political participation but also an evolving democratic space where diverse voices seek representation.
