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.
Close to over 8,000 persons expressed interest to work with ORPP according to the analysis of the number of job applica- tions received for the 26 positions declared in varied cadres. The jobs were advertised vide My Gov Newspaper publica- tion on 7th February, 2023 and further published on Office website and social media platforms. In the period , the job advert social media platforms and numerous digital avenues were awash of the ORPP vacancies. This was posted on 28 February 2023.
Further, a shortlisting exercise was undertaken on 8th to 13th May , 2023 and interviews conducted between 7th to 14th Au- gust, 2023. The process is at the tail end is being headed by Human Resources Management Department. In the course of the process, identified staff in different departments demonstrated team spirit supporting different aspects receiving, sorting and recording of applications; data entry, shortlisting and interviews as well as varied reports required for each stage. Once the recruitment is completed, successful candidate will be notified as stipulated in provided in the guidelines that was contained in the advertisement.
Report writing in one of the sessions in the recruitment process
The volume of applications, besides being a stark reminder of the current unemployment situation in the country, also points to the fact that ORPP is a desired brand to work for. Some of common factors that make the ORPP a desired em- ployment destination includes its credible and trusted reputation as well as a raft of staff capacity/professional building opportunities and benefits staff draw . The expressions also remind staff of the need to safe- guard their privilege to serve and remind them of the need to work diligently for exceptionality within their respective roles.
The recruitment is guided by section 3 of the Human Resource Policy which states that Recruitment process shall be on basis of fair competition and merit; representation of Kenya’s diverse com- munities; adequate and equal opportunities to all gender, youth, members of all ethnic groups, persons with disabilities and minorities.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) unveiled its 2022 Post-Election Evaluation Report on 2nd August 2022. The report is a culmination of a journey toward the development of the report that commenced with internal drafting shortly after the 2022 general election. It was further subjected to a series of ORPP internal reviews, repackaging, stakeholder assessment, and its eventual validation held in June, 2023.
Speaking in the well-attended spectacle event at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi that included representatives of; political parties’, state agencies, donor partners, civil and religious outfits amongst, lauded the ORPP’s raft of initiatives in the run-up, during, and after the election stipulated in the report.
Chief Guest, Attorney General Hon. Justin Muturi speaking during the Post Election Evaluation report launch
Chief Guest Hon B.N. Muturi, the Attorney General called for the need to strengthen the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, anchoring its establishment in the Constitution . He further called for timely enactment of any review of the law to avoid experiences of rush of amendments witnessed in the last election.
“I call on relevant state arms to enhance capacity of the ORPP including its establishment in law and spread across the country”, Muturi noted.
The AG further called on respect for political parties and their organs. He noted, “We must treat political parties to better ‘hygiene’ they deserve. It is the right time for political parties to harness the moment and be counted in the progressive agenda and put forth legal reform proposals’ also as well as be actively involved in current national political discourse”
Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu address participants during the launch
Registrar of Political Parties (second right) , Chief Guest Attorney General (far right) together with invited guests launch the Post Elec- tion Evaluation report at Safari Park hotel, Nairobi on 2nd August, 2023
The Registrar Ann Nderitu while giving an overview of the report called on stakeholders to raise their responsiveness on their citizen engagement initiatives. Some of the key milestones were; legal reforms, Political Parties (membership) Regulations; ICT reengineering; countrywide sensitization; clearance of independent candidates, partnership with Political Parties Liaison Committee (PPLC) in staging peace caravans; registration of parties; confirmation of coalitions/coalition political parties; training of party agents among others.
Assistant Registrar of Political Parties, Ali A. Surraw formulated the report as an important discourse for everyone including the stakeholders. “It is part of a continuous learning as we look at the review of our programs for better service delivery. We will have an open session and invite feedback to improve our next course of action in the next electioneering cycle," said Ali A. Surraw.
"We commit to working collaboratively in developing Regulations for coalitions/coalition, timely electoral reform, better involvement of Special Interest Groups. All stakeholders need to raise the bar engaging the citizens through respective areas of operations", Nderitu said.
Other speakers appreciated the continued partnership with ORPP. "We salute ORPP in developing publications and reports that have improved election administration and management", Joshua Changwony, Uchaguzi Platform convener. "The Steering Committee of PPLC will continue to partner with ORPP to foster amicable political dialogue. However, there is a need to continue to enhance financial capacity including the Political Parties Fund", Christopher Kilonzo, Vice-Chair Steering Committee. The young deserve political stability. We appreciate the collaboration with ORPP we had in the run-up and after the general election such as countrywide sensitization towards a peaceful political environment", National boda-boda Association. “We celebrate the vibrancy and versatility of the constitutional order in Kenya. We are in a good place and a country. We were neutral and stood with Kenyans and institutions managing elections as faith institutions," NCCK Secretary General, Cannon Chris Kinyanjui. "We must for the solidary and shared responsibility for good governance. We must create a society that respects the political rights for the citizens", Hon. John Kagucia, Member of Parliament speaking on behalf of Justice and Legal Affairs Committee.
"The report elicits timely discussions and ways to improve political processes. We need to further the institutionalization of political parties and address 'political hygiene as well safeguard the interest of party members now over 24 million," ELOG, National Coordinator, Mulle Musau. "Moving forward, we will synchronize political process including submission of nomination rules and other areas identified in the report amongst political players to improve subsequent elections", Deputy CEO Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) added. “There is need for continuous capacity building for political parties and improve on citizens' engagement to the realization of political enjoyment as guaranteed in the Constitution", Vice Chairperson, Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNHRC)
Assistant Registrar of Political Parties, CPA Florence Birya on her closing remarks during the ceremony
The ORPP appreciated all stakeholders including staff of ORPP led by the Registrar for the synergy, and input through the development of the report.
“Your contributions have a lot of mark to the delivery of mile- stones we are celebrating today", CPA Florence Birya
![]() |
![]() |
|
A group photo of a section of governors during the opening ceremony of the marking of 10th Devolution conference at Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu County |
Registrar of Political Parties during the Devolution Conference held from 15th-18th August 2023 at Eldoret Sports Club in Uasin Gishu county |
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
Registrar of Political Parties (centre) and former Registrar of Political Parties, Lucy Ndung’u (right) host dignitaries at the ORPP stand during the devolution conference |
Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu (right) share a light moment with Makueni Governor, Hon. Mutula Kilonzo Jr at the ORPP stand. |
|
![]() |
![]() |
|
ORPP Uasin Gishu Regional Coordinator, Hope Nandwa (centre) and her counterpart Silas Likale (right) serves at the stand |
ORPP Partnerships and Linkages Officer, Beatrice Nderi (second left) , Silas Likale (far fight) and some guests pose for a group photo at the exhibition |
Departments, units, and sections have been called upon for timely structuring of their programme of activities to ensure effective implementation by the close of the new year. The functional areas have further been called to finalize matters in the last financial year (FY) 2022/23 to set the path for ones planned in FY 2023/24.
This call is reflected in varied requirements circulated accordingly to responsible departments/officers to submit within set timelines last year’s departmental annual reports, committee reports, staff appraisals, and staff training status reports among others. Guidelines have also been issued for submission of the FY 2023/24 departmental work plans, staff training projections, and drafting of performance contracts among others.
Speaking in a meeting to review Committee reports for the last financial year, the Registrar thanked members of staff for their contribution towards the attainment of the year ended including policies developed, publications formulated, and stakeholder engagements undertaken. “While I acknowledge with gratitude the good work well achieved, I call for more vibrancy and commitment on focus areas in the current year. Automation of processes, being a key area of concentration this year”, the Registrar guided. She further called for full adherence to the ORPP’s Staff Code of Conduct noting for timely and effective actualization of planned activities. “This Office, which is a model brand, will not tolerate incompetence and mediocrity and any staff with such misdemeanor will firmly be dealt with”, the Registrar cautioned.
The Assistant Registrar, CPA Florence Birya, thanked departments, units and sectors for the milestones made particularly in developing a raft of policies, checklists and Standard Operating Procedures in the previous year. “ I call upon us all to pick up the remaining policy framework and finalize them to their conclusive end including the final approvals, possibly, by the end of 1st quarter as the procedure requires”, noted Assistant Registrar
Registrar of Political Parties addresses members of staff during the last FY 2022/23 internal review staff meeting
Staff were further called upon to work collaboratively and innovatively, embracing appropriate consultations for effective service delivery. The FY commences against the backdrop of a number of reviews of government operations and priorities that all state agencies have been called to align to or comply with. Some of these pertain to the automation of government processes and centralization of government payments.