• The confirmed fake statement had indicated that it was issued on Thursday, August 13, 2021, which is the wrong date.
• To indicate that the notice was also fake, it had a number of typos.
Image: FILE
There have been rumours around the social media claiming that the office of the Registrar of Political Parties has gazetted a new party called the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
In a circular dated August 13, the gazette notice had purported that Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa was the leader of the 75th party registered by the ORPP.
However, ORPP has confirmed that the circular is fake.
ORPP said that the Party for Peace and Democracy (PPD) is the recent political party to receive its full registration certificate, which happened on August 6, 2021.
“Democratic Action Party Kenya (DAP-K) is currently the 73rd fully registered political party, having met the conditions of section 7 of the PPA,” ORPP said.
It achieved its full registration certificate in May 2021. The 74th fully registered political party is Party for Peace and Democracy.Office of Registrar of Political Parties.
This, therefore, shows that ORPP has registered 74 political parties in the country, and the claimed 75th party does not exist.
Also, the CS is currently not allowed by the laws to be an active leader of a certain political party and servicing Kenyans at the same time.
The fake post had also claimed that Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu (Ford Kenya member) was the secretary-general, and Josephine Maungu was the national organising secretary.
To indicate that the notice was also fake, it had a number of typos.
“Any person with written submissions concerning the intended registrations by the political party, shall within seven days rom (meant to read
from) the date herein deposits them with the Registrar of Political Parties,” Fake post said.
Also, a fake press statement that was being circulated claiming to be from ORPP Ann Nderitu was questionable.
The confirmed fake statement had indicated that it was issued on Thursday, August 13, 2021, which is wrong.
Thursday was August 12, 2021; hence, the statement was made up with the intension to tarnish the names of the individuals mentioned.
Also, if the claims were true, ORPP would have updated the lists of parties in its website, as well as its social media pages.
It would have also informed media houses of such developments.
Further, a CS is a typical senior civil servant who provides services and advice to the Cabinet which is made up of the President, Deputy President, Attorney General, and other Cabinet Secretaries.
The CS is also expected to act in accordance with this Constitution and provide Parliament with full and regular reports concerning matters under their control and are accountable to the President “for the exercise of their powers and the performance of their functions”.
With such mandates, the CS cannot be in position to serve Kenyans and at the same time manage the interests of the party.