19 February 2026 – The Office held a productive engagement with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) delegation, which was in Kenya for an exchange visit facilitated by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC).
During the session, the visiting delegation was taken through a wide range of processes related to the registration, compliance, and funding of political parties, as guided by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties mandate under the Constitution of Kenya and the country’s enabling laws, regulations, and policy frameworks.
The Registrar, J.C. Lorionokou, shared the history of ORPP and traced the journey of political parties in Kenya, highlighting the gains realized in advancing citizens’ political rights. The Registrar noted that ORPP, in its regulatory role, had contributed to strengthening political parties as democratic and sustainable institutions. He further observed that the Office had made deliberate efforts to promote, protect, and support inclusion measures for Special Interest Groups, while continuing to support political parties to entrench good governance practices for a more robust political landscape.
Assistant Registrar, CPA Florence Birya stated that ORPP had continued to promote the realization of citizens’ political rights as provided for in the Constitution. She added that the measures undertaken by the Office had helped enhance political tolerance and strengthened adherence to human rights standards, which form part of the compliance requirements for political parties.
Assistant Registrar, CS Agatha Wahome underscored the importance of inter-agency collaboration, particularly the continued partnership between ORPP and KNHRC. She noted that the Office advanced human rights given that political rights are integral to the broader human rights framework. She further highlighted that the institutions worked together through information sharing, particularly on matters relating to violence and violations, while also exploring broader areas of cooperation, including support for individuals who face human rights challenges in the post-election period.
Members of the ORPP team also engaged the delegation on technical aspects within their respective dockets, including compliance parameters, administration of the Political Parties Fund, registration processes, ICT and automation, and institutional structures.
Speaking on behalf of the visiting delegation, Kalkidan Dereje, Head of Delegation, expressed appreciation for the engagement, noting that the insights gained would inform ongoing efforts to recalibrate their country’s political management model.
The exchange visit was coordinated by the Partnership and Resource Mobilization Department.