Fund only parties that won seats: Ndung’u
What you need to know:
- This, according to Ms Lucy Ndung’u, would weed out briefcase parties.
The Registrar of Political Parties wants funding to be based on the number of elective seats in Parliament and county assemblies.
This, according to Ms Lucy Ndung’u, would weed out briefcase parties.
“We should only fund parties that have won elective positions so that they are able to carry out their activities in line with the Constitution,” Ms Ndung’u said in Nairobi Tuesday during the launch of strategic plan for eight political parties.
She said her office was engaged in institutional development of political parties so that they could be run professionally.
“We are drafting strategic reforms in my office that will serve political parties effectively,” said Ms Ndung’u.
A Bill by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale that seeks to fund all political parties as long as they have a representative in the Senate, National Assembly and county assembly in any of the 47 regions is before the Senate.
The Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution has opposed the Bill, saying it is unconstitutional.
Centre for Multiparty Democracy chairman Omingo Magara urged MPs to make laws that gave all political parties, whether in or out of Parliament, a level playing field.
Mr Magara said all parties deserved a share to stop relying on donor support.
He also called on President Kenyatta to appoint a substantive registrar of political parties to ensure the holder of the office was independent.
He also cautioned the government and MPs against targeting women leaders in an bid to reduce the wage bill.
Narc-Kenya leader Martha Karua also urged the government to fund all parties. “We need local investment in political parties and should not leave that to international donors,” she said.
Ms Karua said there was a need to nurture democracy in political parties to avoid claims of foul play in general elections.
Dr Yusuf Nzibo, an electoral commission official, said they were examining their performance in the last General Election.
“We have been receiving reports on how we performed and we will be engaging other stakeholders so that we see where we can improve in the next election,” he said.
