The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) was among the lead institutions that witnessed establishment
of a Women Coordinating Committee on Elections (WCC) in a forum held on 14th January, 2022 at the Crowne Plaza,
Nairobi.
The 7–member team has its membership drawn from representation of various public and non-state organizations
led by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). Some of its tasks deliberated and agreed dur-
ing the meeting inter alia are the following:
a) To collaborate with IEBC to formulate appropriate strategies and targeted programmes to enhance monitoring
and evaluation of participation of women throughout the electoral cycle while pooling resources;
b) To support in development and distribution of women targeted voter information and communication materials;
c) To collaborate with IEBC in conducting voter education for members of their representative groups;
Encourage member organizations to apply for accreditation as election observers and voter education provider for
all activities across the electoral cycle.
Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu in her remarks made by the Senior Administrator, Jane Njeri who represent-
ed her in the forum, pointed out the disproportionate participation of women in politics over the world visa-vis the
world’s women population. “A global study that was carried out in 2019 indicated participation of women in national
level Parliaments was only 24% which accounted for 8% of national leaders”, cited a recent report. Such she noted,
only arguments the fact that there are unique challenges that women grapple with in their effort to participate espe-
cially in politics.
She noted of the deliberate efforts ORPP had put in place in creating positive and safe space for women to participate
in politics. For instance, in order for a political party to be registered, it must meet the conditions spelt out in section 7
of the Political Parties Act, 2011 which among others, requires that Special Interest Groups are incorporated in their
respective governing organs and membership register, failure to which there are sanctions including a provisionally
registered party not to attain full registration”.
The Registrar emphasized continual inspections that Office undertakes to ensure that political parties’ have structures
to enable women actively engage in the internal affairs of political parties including in governing organs. In addition,
she informed of ORPP’s robust capacity building forums run for women aspirants. “These fora aim at sensitizing the
women about the constitution and other electoral laws in order to enhance their readiness to participate in politics and
also scale up their personal development and leadership skills so that they can successfully engage in the political
arena and actualize their political ambitions”, the Registrar noted. Adding that women should hold one another hands
to benefit in efforts of various players like on the Coordination Committee that will bolster women potential and capa-
bilities to not only vie successfully for political positions but also influence the formulation of policies that will positively
impact the lives of Kenyans.
Notable speakers who also spoke on varied facets on the subject of the forum’s deliberations were among others:
IEBC’s Vice Chairperson Juliana Cherera, Commissioner Francis Wanderi and Joyce Ekuam Director, Voter Educa-
tion, Partnerships and Communication. Some of the institutions present and whose representatives will sit in the WCC
are; Women Empowerment, Badili Kenya, Mzalendo Trust, Legal Sisters, The University of Nairobi and Humming
Bird Initiative with IEBC as ex- officio.