Parties to declare their wealth in July

The wealthiest political parties will be known next month. By July, the 51 registered political parties are required to furnish the Registrar of Political Parties with details of their assets and sources of funds ahead of the next general election. This is also the same time that political parties have to submit their nomination rules to the IEBC.

So far, the acting Registrar of Political Parties boss Lucy Ndung’u said ten out of the 51 registered political parties have sent their wealth declarations as well as the financial pledges. “Political parties had 60 days upon receiving certificate of full registration to lodge the details of their wealth and liabilities,” Ndung’u said yesterday

The law provides that such information be gazetted for purposes of accountability. “I think ten (parties) have declared their assets and we are preparing to gazette them as required by the Act,” Ndung’u added. The law requires parties to declare their assets, sources of funding and any other donations or pledges that they expect 60 days upon receipt of registration certificates.

Fifty one political parties met the requirements of the Political Parties Act to be registered by April 30, the deadline set for parties to comply with the Act. Presidential hopeful Martha Karua’s Narc-Kenya which was the first to be registered nearly three months ago. Meanwhile, politicians who want vie in the next elections have been advised to begin wrapping up fundraising activities. The electoral body has directed that candidates stop engaging in fundraising activities by July.