Why political parties in Kenya charge for membership

NAIROBI: Chapter 16 (1) of the Constitution says a political party shall be capable, in its own name, of acquiring and disposing of property.

Chapter 17 article 1 stipulates that a political party, which is fully registered under the Political Parties Act, 2011, shall maintain at its head office and at each of its county office in the prescribed form, an accurate and authentic record of particulars of any contribution, donation or pledge of a contribution or donation, whether in cash or in kind, made by the founding members of the political party.

Chapter 23 of the Act establishes a fund known as the Political Parties Fund, which is administered by the Registrar of political parties. Chapter 24 (1) stipulates that the sources of the fund are such that funds not being less than 0.3 per cent of the revenue collected by the national government as may be provided by Parliament and contributions and donations to the fund from any other source. The fund is to be distributed as follows: 95 per cent of the fund proportionately by reference to the total number of votes secured by each political party in the preceding general election and five per cent for the administration expenses of the fund.

However, a political party is not entitled to receive funding from the fund if the party does not secure at least five per cent of the total number of votes at the preceding general election or more than two-thirds of its registered office bearers are of the same gender.

Chapter 26 Article 1 says money allocated to a registered political party from the fund shall be used for purposes compatible with democracy, including promoting the representation in Parliament and in the county assemblies of women, persons with disabilities, youth, ethnic and other minorities and marginalised communities and promoting active participation by individual citizens in political life.

The money is also used for covering election expenses of the political party and the broadcasting of the policies of the political party, organisation by the political party of civic education in democracy and other electoral processes and bringing the political party’s influence to bear on the shaping of public opinion.

The other sources of funds for a political party are membership fees, voluntary contributions from a lawful source, donations, bequests and grants from any other lawful source, not being from a non-citizen, foreign government, inter-governmental or non-governmental organisation and the proceeds of any investment, project or undertaking in which the political party has an interest.

A foreign agency, or a foreign political party which shares an ideology with a political party registered in Kenya can also give money to the party.