ICPC wants Registrar to make pacts public

By Beatrice Obwocha

Nairobi, Kenya: The International Centre for Policy and Conflict (ICPC) wants the Registrar of Political Parties to make public pre-election agreements and threatened to sue if the information is not released.

In a statement, ICPC said the information is of great importance to Kenyans as it will enable them make informed choices when voting.

“It is in the interests of democracy and public participation that we request for this information to be made public failure to which, we shall seek to enforce the same rights through the courts,” read the statement signed by ICPC Executive Director Ndung’u Wainaina.

Wainaina said Kenyans are guaranteed public participation in governance under the current constitution and have right to freedom of expression which include freedom to receive information.

“The Office of Registrar of Political Parties is a state office. Under Article 35 (3), your office is compelled to publish and publicise any important information it holds that affects the nation.”

• .

  Keep Reading

• 
  CDF Ogolla's last moments in troubled North Rift
• 
  Fridah Mokaya officially takes over as Chief Registrar of Judiciary
• 
  JSC interviews for Chief Registrar position fell short in these respects
• 
  Frida Mokaya is the new Judiciary Chief Registrar

He said the deadline to submit the pre-election pacts and power sharing had elapsed and various political parties have already complied with the requirement.

On Tuesday, most political parties rushed to comply with the deadline for coalitions.

Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta’s The Party of National Alliance signed a pact with Eldoret North MP William Ruto’s United Republic Party and DPM Musalia Mudavadi’s United Democratic Party.

Prime Minister Raila Odinga led ODM in signing a deal with Vice President Kalonzo Musoka’s Wiper Democratic Movement Party, Ford Kenya and 11 other parties.

Others who signed a pact are Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth whose Kenya National Congress party entered into an agreement with Raphael Tuju’s Party Of Action.