Corporate Affairs
Lion Place Nairobi, Kenya; December,2,2019.
The Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) on Monday 2nd December 2019, in Nairobi, launched a cache of publications. The event was a culmination of a multi-stakeholder concerted effort towards the publications’ authorship, reviews and eventual publication.
The publications launched were the Popular Version of the Political Parties Act; Kitabu Chanzo cha Mafunzo ya Uongozi wa Vyama vya Siasa; The Communication Policy and Strategy; Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Policy and Strategy and Service Charter.
Lead speakers and partners lauded the development of the documents as a noteworthy milestone critical in the empowering players in political processes. “Having been on process from its inception, I can tell you that the journey has been long and involving, but I am happy that we together celebrate the coming to be of these essential publications”, appreciated Prof. Lee Muthoga, one of the lead Intellectuals in the development of the Source book and a guest speaker during the event. His sentiments corroborated by Prof. Catherine Ndungo, one of the frontage scholars towards the making of the Popular Version. She was pleased to have translated the version into Kiswahili language, terming it as one of ways of delivering legalese message to Kenyans across board in language they can easily understand.
Key note speaker Hon. Justice Mbogholi Msagha (3rd right) Chairperson, the Judiciary Committee on
Elections, the Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu (2nd right) andother guests launch the
ORPP corporate publications
In his key address, Hon. Justice Mbogholi Msagha, Chairperson, the Judiciary Committee on Elections, challenged the political class to take lead in solving challenges of the country, particularly in respect to political disputes. The Chief Guest noted, such resolution rests heavily on political parties’ internal dispute mechanisms as contained in their respective founding constitutions. “Integrity and transparency in political parties’ affairs especially those regarding disputes can substantially reduce disputes that escalate to Political Parties Dispute Tribunal and obviously affect electorates”, appealed the Msagha. He also called on the political parties to regularly review their constitutions and code of conduct cognisant the dynamics that come especially after election outcomes. The Hon. Judge further appealed to the political leadership to communicate right and progressive perspectives to the populace that informs day to day narratives for many Kenyans.
The Chairman, Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC) Hon. William Cheptumo assuring his to marshal up support for the ORPP to deliver the critical mandate to the Kenyan people. “As the National Assembly, we will legally and financially support Registrar’s Office as a key Office in delivering the good work it is doing,” noted the Chairman.
Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu while appreciating the stakeholders for unwavering support to ORPP, promised ORPP’s commitment towards reaching out to the stakeholders of all walks of life through stakeholder trainings, awareness creation and other mechanisms to ensure Kenyans are sensitized of the wealth of knowledge contained in the publications.
The well-attended launch had participants drawn from representatives of the UN Women and supporting partners; representatives of registered political parties; members of National Assembly and Senate; representatives of select foreign Missions and Embassies in Kenya; governance and civil society organisations among others.
The Leadership Training Source Book is an expert- compiled curriculum for training the political leadership on a breadth of areas to enhance adherence to tenets of the Constitution, Political Parties Act and the respective political parties’ Code of Conduct. The simplified version of the Political Parties Act is one of mechanism for enhancing wider access to legal information to the citizens and the sector players. The two publications are complemented by said institutional policy and strategy framework to be implemented within the quality standards precincts set out in the ORPP Service Charter, also launched.