Political parties want registrar post filled

Acting Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u. (Photo:File/Standard)

Political parties have petitioned President Uhuru Kenyatta to kick-start the stalled process of appointing the Registrar of Political Parties.

According to the law, whenever a vacancy arises in the Office of Registrar of Political Parties or Assistant Registrar, the President shall, with the approval of the National Assembly, appoint a selection committee.

The President is mandated to nominate the chair of the eight-person panel to conduct the recruitment exercise. The panel should have representatives from the Law Society of Kenya, Institute of Certified Public Accountants of Kenya and Association of Professional Societies in East Africa, with political parties nominating two persons each from the National Assembly and the Senate.

The parties say that although Lucy Ndung'u is currently holding the position, she cannot discharge the duties bestowed to that office as she is not a substantive holder of the office.

The Political Parties Act, 2011, established the Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) as an independent office.

The Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) that brings together all registered parties has written to the President requesting him to commence the process.

"The law provides for the appointment of a substantive registrar and as we speak, Madam Lucy Ndung'u is not formally in office and can't discharge her duties effectively," CMD chairman Omingo Magara says in a letter to the President.

ODM regretted that the registrar is not in place and said it will include the agenda of the appointment of a registrar during its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting to be held within a fortnight.

"Immediately the Act became operational, a vacancy should have been declared but in a twist of fate, the current registrar was retained. This process should have started yesterday and even if it is Lucy Ndung'u who is confirmed, it should be done formally," ODM Secretary General Ababu Namwamba said.

ODM's concerns were shared by TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja who said parties need a registrar as a matter of urgency.