The Annual Women's Rights Convention, was in Nairobi convened by CRAWN Trust to formulate best practices and assess the status of women's inclusion and involvement in governance.

Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu addresses participants during the Annual Women’s Rights convention on 23th August 2023 in Nairobi

The Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu applauded the engagement forum while outlining ORPP's efforts on the subject including capacity building, enforcing compliance for political parties on gender threshold in governance, legal reform responsive to gender parity among others.

" I call upon women to actively participate in political parties activities and processes which will eliminate barriers faced by women in the electoral processes", noted the Registrar.

Gender biasesness, cultural norms, limited access to resources and political violence were some of the challenges identified impending women's participation in governance.

The Cabinet Secretary Hon. Aisha Jumwa, Ministry of Pub- lic Service, Youth and Gender Affairs officiated the forum with stakeholders drawn from civil society actors, policy- makers, development partners, and women's rights organi- zations among others

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Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Kenia, a Non-governmental Organization, paid a courtesy call to Registrar of Political Parties at ORPP headquarters on 9th August, 2023 to forge partnerships and collaborations in matters for Political processes and engagements. Discussions were centered on the potential partnership between the two institutions for deepening the democratic space. Other areas were on strategies for civic education for better political participation for Special Interest Groups.

Registrar of Political Parties (second left) and Ms. Marjorie Okeyo (left) host Officials of Konrad –Adenauer Stiftung Kenya at her Office.

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The ORPP held a sensitization meeting with 48 Political Parties that currently qualifying for the Political Parties Fund (PPF) on the commencement of the Financial Year 2023/2024. The engagement revolved around the process and distribution of allocation of Political Parties Funds to qualified Political Parties as per the conformity of the Law.

“We are happy to report that all the 48 political parties have received the funds for the last financial year. Unfortunately, some have not been able to utilize the funds due to compliance issues which raises concerns to our Office with the Auditors through financial statements. As officials of political parties we do request that you prepare accurate Financial Statements and acknowledge receipt because they form the basis of the audits” said Registrar of Political Parties.

Registrar of Political Parties informed the officials that the Office had requested for more allocation of the funds from the current percentage from the National government so that Parties would run appropriate activities more effectively and urged them to lobby for the push since they are the lawmakers and are the advantage point of making such requests.

The Senior Chief Finance Officer, Joshua Kimulu presented the analysis on the distribution processes and disbursement. He urged the officials to make fresh applications using fully filled prescribed forms PP1 and PP2 as well as present a contained work plan to the office as required by the law

Registrar of Political Parties addressing officials of Political Parties during her opening remarks at the Analysis of Political Parties’ Fund for the FY 2023/24 forum.

Distribution of Funds is according to Section 25 of the PPA which outlines; 70% of the Fund reference to the total number of votes secured in the preceding election; 15% proportionately on the number of elected Special Interest Groups (SIGs); 10% based on the total number of representatives elected and 5% for Administrative duties of ORPP.

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) was part of the delegates and exhibitors at the 8th Devolution Conference held on 15th to 19th August, 2023 at the Eldoret Sports Club, Uasin Gichu county. It provided an opportunity for the Office to showcase its milestones and initiatives aligned to devolution tenets including the trajectory of regulation of political parties and Office presence and engagements at the devolved units.

Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu was one of the key delegates. In the occasion, the Registrar led a section of Office team present in serving visiting guests at ORPP stand and interacting with high-level delegates at varied points of interactions. Ms. Nderitu also participated in the conference in her capacity as one of the Principals under UWIANO, a platform comprising of different state and non-state agencies in politics, conflict management and peace-building space.

Registrar of Political Parties (right) with high-level delegates including former Registrar of Political Parties, Lucy Ndung’u (left) at the ORPP stand during the Devolution Conference 2023 at Eldoret

Central to the keynote addresses by invited guests, panel discussions and exhibitions were on the milestones made by counties, government agencies and private sector in the past decade. This resonated with the conference theme “10 Years of Devolution: The Present and The Future”. During the conference awards.

Among the leading speakers were the H.E. President, William Ruto, Deputy President Hon.Rigathi Gachagua, the Former Prime Minister Rt. Hon Raila Odinga, Chair of Governors Ann Waiguru, a number of governors, and members of Parliament among others. The reverberating message in their address was a recollection of the gains of devolution, reflection of the hindrances, and proposals for enhanced collaboration and synergy between national and county governments for the larger good in service delivery and uplifting of living standards of the Kenyan people.

President William Ruto (centre) , Prime Cabinet Secretary, Musalia Mudavadi (third right), Makueni Senator. Mutula Kilonzo (second left) and Chair of Governors, Ann Waiguru (left) presents one of the report at the Devolution Conference 2023.

The close of the conference that had also its fair share of fun including a football match pitying Senators and Governors, distilled over 30 resolutions, tagged to action players on varied socio-economic aspects on health; climate change, education; technology and innovation, knowledge generation and transfer; blue economy; urban housing and planning; legislative reforms and many more.

Read the resolution communique courtesy of the Council of Governors, the lead organizers of the event on the link https://www.cog.go.ke/images/ Statements/news/DOC-20230830-WA0000..pdf.

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