Kenya has 90 registered political parties, with 32 more awaiting approval, but high registration fees from Sh100,000 for provisional status to Sh500,000 for full registration are making it difficult for new leaders, especially young people, to enter politics.
Registrar of Political Parties, John Cox Lorionokou, said only parties with a clear purpose and long-term plan are likely to survive beyond election cycles.
At the start of the year, there were 92 fully registered parties, but two were put on notice for registration issues in January. The 32 others are on a waiting list for full registration once they meet all legal requirements.
Lorionokou explained the costs involved for anyone looking to form a political party.
“The fee is Sh100,000. You get the provisional certificate. Then, when you meet all other requirements for full registration, you will need to pay 500,000, some of around 600,000 for a person to have a fully registered political party,” he said on Thursday during an interview on Radio Generation.
Addressing concerns that fees could block young Kenyans from participating, Lorionokou said: “I think for me, the question we need to answer is expensive for who? Expensive for the party, expensive for the people, for the people trying to open this.”
He added that these rules are designed to prevent “briefcase political parties”—those that exist only on paper for personal use. “We say registering a political party is expensive, yes, but we also say there are so many briefcase political parties,” he said.
Lorionokou emphasized that political parties must meet national standards, including regional representation.
“Political Party, according to Article 91 has to have a regional balance. Has to have the face of Kenya.These parameters mean that the political party has to extend beyond one region. That is why the 24–25 counties come into play,” he explained.
Lorionokou however, urged prospective party founders to consider the sustainability of their ventures.
“Part of the problem we have is seasonal political parties. There are parties that exist within a cycle of election, and then they disappear. We are trying to strengthen the ability of political parties to stand the test of time,” Lorionokou said.
The Registrar also highlighted the importance of a compelling reason to form a party.
“The fee for me is just a commitment. We already have 90 political parties. What is that compelling rule? What is that compelling thing that makes you feel I need to have a different one?” he posed.
