Party free to take part in Kajiado poll

A political party which changed its name on Wednesday is free to field a candidate in the Kajiado Central by-election.

The Jubilee Alliance Party, initially know as Conservative Party, faces no legal hurdles for changing its name, Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u said.

This brings to rest fears by party officials that publication of a notice to change the name could block their participation in the poll.

Said Ms Ndung’u: “It is a fully registered political party which changed its name from Conservative Party to Jubilee Alliance Party. It has all the rights to field a candidate.”

The party has already issued a certificate to its candidate Patrick Tutui. The party published its first notice to members alerting them of the change of name last Wednesday.

“Upon the expiry of 30 days from the date of publication of the notice in subsection (1), the political party may after taking into account any representations received from the public under sub-section (1) and (2), effect the change or alteration in accordance with its constitution and rules,” reads Article 20 of the Political Parties Act.

The law also requires the Registrar of Political Parties to gazette the changes within 14 days of notification.

CHANGE NAME
Kajiado West MP Moses ole Sakuda Monday said the party has addressed concerns about the change of name and that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has dully been informed.

“We raised the matter with IEBC and it assured us that we can go ahead and present a candidate,” Mr Sakuda said.

“We wish to notify our members and the public that our party name has changed from Conservative Party to Jubilee Alliance Party,” read part of the advert.