- Elected leaders are however required to give ORPP a physical notification to leave a party.
- "I however want to assure our citizens that their data is safe,” ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru said.
Image: FREDRICK OMONDI
Kenyans can now check their party membership status, register as members or quit political outfits on e-Citizen.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties on Wednesday brought on board the services on the e-platform.
The Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu said she is obliged under section 34 (d) of the Political Parties Act 2011 to “verify and make publicly available the list of all members of political parties”.
“It is in the fulfilment of this mandate that the ORPP brought on board some of its services on e- Citizen,” she said.
Membership of political parties’ and a host of other records are managed through an Integrated Political Parties Management System.
The IPPMS is a web-based system, internally developed by ORPP. It helps manage and maintain a secure data base of political parties’ records.
Speaking during the launch of the Office of Registrar of Political Parties 2020-2025 Strategic Plan and ORPP services on e-Citizen platform, Nderitu pointed out that one does not become a member of a party immediately they apply or cease to be one straightaway after quitting.
“It is not instant. It is some kind of an application. The party may reject or accept an application of a person seeking to be a member.
"Regarding resignations, the party has to notify the ORPP and we give a timeframe. If the party does not deregister a member within this time, we forcibly remove them from the register to enforce their rights,” she said.
Nderitu however pointed out that elected leaders are required to give a physical notification to leave a party.
She urged parties to allow members who want to leave to go without any difficulties.
“Those who want to quit, please do so without causing too much drama,” she said.
The registrar added that party nominations will now become easy because membership data will be easily available.
ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru, who was the chief guest at the event lauded ORPP for demonstrating willingness to adopt technology in the execution of its duties as established under section 33 of the Political Parties Act (PPA), 2011.
He said the initiative to on-board services on the e-Citizen’s platform was implemented through a joint partnership between ORPP and e-Citizen with support of the varied development partners.
He added that data in ORPP’s possession can be leveraged to drive the organisational goals and objectives as laid out in their strategic plan.
Mucheru said the same data can influence communication, awareness and information dissemination campaign strategies.
“However, while some uses of the data may be permissible, other uses can raise ethical and democratic concerns.
"An example was the pilot rolled out by the ORPP in June, to give citizens an opportunity to verify their party registration and/or affiliation, which caused an outcry.
"I however want to assure our citizens that their data is safe,” he said.
The CS said his ministry, as part of the broader mitigation strategies against data breaches and misuse fast-tracked the enactment of the Data Privacy and Protection Laws as well as the Computer and Cybercrimes Act.
“My ministry remains fully committed to supporting the ORPP and all other key stakeholders with the relevant policy and regulatory guidance,” he assured.
Officials from the National Treasury, National Cohesion and Integration Commission, Office of Data Protection, Judiciary Committee on Elections, IEBC, Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and Commission on Administrative Justice were also present.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)