The process of verifying political parties ahead of the 2027 General Election has hit a major hurdle, with 32 provisionally registered parties unable to complete the checks required for full registration.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) says the lack of allocated funds is blocking these parties from meeting legal obligations.
Registrar John Cox Lorionokou told MPs at the 2026 Legislative Retreat in Nakuru that clearing one party’s verification costs about Sh3.9 million, meaning Sh62.4 million is needed to address the current backlog. The office is seeking the shortfall through the first Supplementary Estimates for the 2025/26 financial year.
“The Office has witnessed an increase in applications for registration for political parties, but is now unable to undertake mandatory activities required under the law,” Lorionokou said.
Currently, 90 parties are fully registered, while Ukweli Party and Vibrant Democratic Party were removed from the register on January 12, 2026. Verification requires parties to demonstrate functioning offices in at least 24 counties, maintain minimum membership, respect gender rules, and include special interest groups in leadership, all confirmed through ORPP inspections.
Without verification, political parties are barred from nominating candidates, accessing public funding, or operating fully in the lead-up to elections.
Lorionokou explained that the registration freeze is part of a broader underfunding issue affecting ORPP’s operations, including inspections, compliance monitoring, and capacity-building programs.
While the agency requested Sh1.6 billion for the year, it received only Sh508.6 million, most of which has been spent on salaries, rent, and insurance.
The underfunding also affects the Political Parties Fund, which by law should get at least 0.3 per cent of government revenue, or Sh7.6 billion for 2025/26.
Only Sh1.9 billion, less than 0.1 per cent, was provided, continuing a trend that has led to legal disputes, including cases filed by the Orange Democratic Movement. Currently, just 47 parties qualify for fund disbursement following the dissolution of Amani National Congress in February 2025.
Looking ahead to 2027, ORPP plans to enforce rules on gender balance, youth and disability representation, and internal party democracy more strictly.
“Parties with more than two-thirds of office bearers from one gender, or those lacking representation of youth, persons with disabilities, and other special interest groups, are not eligible for public funding. Parties must also have secured at least one elective seat in the previous election to qualify for the fund,” Lorionokou said.
He urged political parties to hold a national dialogue to ensure a peaceful and credible election process.
“One of my dreams is that the political parties will have a national dialogue on how they want to look at this animal called the general elections, which has presented itself in many forms. We have one country; if it stands, it stands for all, if it sinks, it sinks for all. I ask the Secretary Generals of all the political parties to converse and agree on how to have a peaceful general election. We all have a responsibility as parties, citizens, and as a country to uphold credible elections for the sake of our country,” he said.
Lorionokou reminded MPs that ORPP also monitors campaigns, by-elections, and general elections, stressing that parties must coexist peacefully, irrespective of size or influence.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula added that institutional and funding gaps in election management must be addressed urgently.
“The preparedness of the nation for the forthcoming elections is a matter of national interest. Where gaps exist, we must act decisively,” Wetang’ula said.
