ORPP assures stakeholders security of its ICT system

Corporate Affairs
Lion Place Nairobi, Kenya; October,11,2019.

The Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has re-assured that the information system it deploys in the management of political parties is fool-proof. The Integrated Political Parties Management System (IPPMS), an internally developed system has in its security design an encompassing security features to safeguard its data and manage its use.

The Office stated this position as one of its submissions to the National Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee (PAC) on 3rd October 2019 at Parliament buildings. The Registrar Ann Nderitu, noted that the Office continued to review and improve this and other envisaged systems for optimal attainment of their intended purpose. “We have in place a robust and tamper-proof system that has incorporated in its design and management all tenets of information security management”, the Registrar noted.

The system which has been lauded by stakeholders as a pivotal online mechanism was further explained to have well-controlled users’ credentials to mitigate unauthorized access. “We grant user access rights to designated external parties with express guidelines and accountability procedures”, explained the Senior ICT Officer, Bob Waithaka.The ICT Head, also highlighted to the PAC members of soon to be embarked process of engaging relevant government agencies to explore partnership as one of the ways of expanding the scope of the system through available e-platforms such as the e-citizen.

The Registrar further informed of the on-going programme to upgrade the system to incorporate other functionalities. She noted the upgrade is solely informed by a clearly mapped out gaps and stakeholder feedback received in the course use of the system.

The ORPP team appeared to the PAC Committee to present the audited accounts for the ORPP’s financial year 2016/17, which the Office of the Auditor-General had favourably rated as “unqualified” with minor areas of improvement. Other areas of discussion during the meeting centred on administration of Political Parties Fund, party primaries among other election legal reforms.

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Lobby group calls for sustained push to gender parity, ORPP puts its position

Corporate Affairs
Lion Place Nairobi, Kenya; July,31,2019.

An advocacy group, Community Advocacy and Awareness (CRAWN) Trust has called on women to re-energize the agitation for full implementation of the two-third gender principle as it is currently fashioned in the Constitution of Kenya. The many years of the past struggle characterized, by polarity among key players involved in different stages was cited key reason not to relent. This formed part of the deliberations of the Trust’s organized National Consultative Forum among different players in the electoral process held on the 31 st July 2019 in Nairobi.

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) being a key player, made its position known on the matter. A raft of legislative and alternative measures that the Office had progressively realized was outlined. Speaking a key panelist during the forum, the Registrar Ms. Ann Nderitu called for a continued concerted effort from all parties including the electorates to realize the thorny rule. “Cognizant of the socio-cultural dynamics of this principle, it is time for all players in the electoral space to explore other alternativesto complement the legislation efforts made. For instance, we need support mechanisms including financial, for women who had courage venture into murky field of politics but were unsuccessfully in elective positions, map out and bring them back on board”, the Registrar advised. She further noted the ORPP’s strive in ensuring there are women in the National Executive Councils of political parties as one of its deliberate effort to marshal up the required women numbers. Further, urging on women to play their part in building their own capacity to competitively qualify for the positions, citing soft attributes such as negotiating skills a critical one.

Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu (left) makes her submission as a lead panelist during the meeting at the
Crowne Plaza, Nairobi. Other panel members were: Ms. Daisy Amdany (middle), Executive Director CRAWN Trust and
Ms. Emmaculate Kassait, Director Voter Education, Partnerships and Communication at IEBC

Participants were of the consenting view for women to support one another and consolidate working strategies, formulate grassroots advocacy campaigns with a view of arriving at a common ground to push the agenda forward. The debate of whether or not the gender rule be a question for plebiscite amendment also played out in the animated discussions, with most proposing stay of the status quo. “Our mark in this space is to make sure there is a political cost whenever we are sidelined, since at the ‘political table’ is where far and binding decisions for the entire country are made. Special interest groups should be represented on this table”, passionately implored Ms. Daisy Amdany, the CRAWN Executive Director. A call, corroborated by her colleague Stella Agara, noting of the need for a women friendly pieces of legislation, sensitive to issues of
women, key to delivering the representation agenda. Ms. Brenda Isabel of the Electoral Law and Governance Institute for Africa (ELGIA), a continental agency supporting the forum, further noting for the need for a strategic civic education to create awareness on the subject.

Participants follow proceedings during the National Consultative Forum

A joint position paper to be presented to the Building the Bridges Initiative (BBI) was developed as part of the outcome of the day’s deliberations. Participating institutions included Independent Electoral and boundaries Commission (IEBC), National Gender and Equality Commission (NGEK), Federation of Wowen Lawyers (FIDA), Katiba Institute and various women support outfits from various parts of the country.

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Office tables proposal to political parties’ law

Corporate Affairs
Lion Place Nairobi, Kenya; July,31,2019.

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) appeared before the National Assembly’s select Constitutional Implementation Oversight Committee on 23 rd July 2019 to present its position on the proposed amendments to the Political Parties Act (PPA), 2011.

A section on during the presentation by the ORPP to National Assembly Constitutional Implementation

Oversight Committee at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

The proposals were geared towards enriching the Representation of Special Interest Group Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2019 before the Jeremiah Kioni’s chaired House Committee. Key proposals were on specific provisions regarding the qualification and criteria for distribution of the Political Fund under section 25 of the PPA. Unlike the previously, clarity has been given in the amendment to the effect that the “Fund should exclusively be shared and allocated to the political parties and not the coalition of parties”. In respect to the criteria for distribution, a deletion of 25 (a) (ii) with a new of sub-section has been reccomedned to read “ 50% of the Fund proportionately shared between political parties that meet the threshold set out under section 25 (2) (c) of the Bill…” the proposal reads in part. A re-introduction of a PPA 2007, provision in allocation to special interest group has been sought. Such will provide for “as provided for under the 2007 Act, the 20% should be shared/distributed proportionately among the political parties that participated in the preceding elections in reference to total number of votes secured at the last general election by each of the party’s presidential, governor, parliamentary and county assembly candidates. Clarity has also been proposed to define the allocated funds to Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) pursuant to section 25 (1) (e) of the Bill by replacing the word “administration” with “dialogue operations”.

The proposals are part of the legal reforms that the ORPP is working on with other key stakeholders ahead of the general elections.

The Office was represented in the sitting by Registrar Ann Nderitu, Juliet Murimi (Compliance), Bon Makolwal (Legal), Joseph Kanja (Planning) and Joshua Kimulu (Finance).

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"Tell your own experience on past Political Party Primaries", Public Urged

By Nandwa Hope
Nairobi Kenya, Monday March 18, 2019

A Taskforce on Review of Political Party Primaries will hold public engagements on the 20th March 2019 with members of the public to collect views and information relevant to reform  Political Party Primaries in Kenya. The forums will take place in Mombasa, Nakuru, Isiolo, Nyeri, Kisumu and Kitui counties.

Registrar of Political Parties, Ms. Ann Nderitu confirmed the taskforce has membership from National Assembly, Senate, Office of the Attorney General and Department of Justice, Kenya Law Reform Commission, Ethics and Anti-corruption Commission, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, National Gender and Equality Commission, Political Parties Dispute Tribunal and Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.

She added that the objectives of the forum are to obtain the experiences of Kenyans at the grass root level from their involvement in Party Primaries.

“The Taskforce will identify issues for reform of the primaries process and receive input into the draft policy framework on the conduct of Party Primaries with recommendations and possible areas for legal reforms” she added.

The PPA 2011 provides for the Code of Conduct of Political parties which affirms the need for them to uphold and promote democratic practices through free, fair and credible nominations. Code of Conduct regulates the behavior of members and office holders of political parties, aspiring candidates, candidates and their supporters with a view of promoting good governance.

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