The ORPP participated in the 8th edition of The People Dialogue Festival (PDF), joining a breadth of high-profile delegates, stakeholders, exhibitors, and citizens at the annual Fair, courtesy of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD).
The ORPP is participating in the March 4th to 7th, as guest speakers, panellists, and also exhibiting its services at the expo arena at Uhuru park Nairobi County.
Speaking at the opening session at the festival, the Registrar of Political Parties, J.C. Loroniokou, lauded the forum for creating a vital space for civic engagement. He called on the young in Kenya, emphasising the urgency needed to actively participate in political parties, including registering in the ongoing Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission(IEBC) voter registration exercise.
“At a time when we are nearing elections, your participation isn’t just a right, it’s the loudest way to make your voice heard,” Loroniokou further observed.
As one of the panellists, the Assistant Registrar, CPA Florence Birya, highlighted the Office’s efforts to promote youth meaningful participation in political parties’ governance processes, a panacea for the country’s good governance.
“As youth, you have the ability and skill to push for sound governance practices in political parties. This is only attainable if you join the political parties of your persuasion. The ORPP accords all duly registered parties an equal pedestal in accordance with the law,” said CPA Florence Birya while debunking the ‘briefcase party’ narrative.
The Assistant Registrar CS Agatha Wahome also offered perspectives at the Festival’s event coordinated by Transparency International, themed ‘Money or Box” held at Gumzo Village. The side event focused on the role of ORPP in the political parties’ financing landscape and the effect of Political Parties Fund (PPF), on political leadership in Kenya, which ORPP administers.
At the festival, the ORPP team engaged and serve various guests thronging the ORPP stand at the expo arena. The engagement was part of ORPP outreach efforts to create awareness of its regulatory role amidst a dynamic political landscape and directly serve and sensitize stakeholders on the Office mandate.