New Political Parties Risk Missing Electoral Deadlines, Lawyer Warns
Across the country, parties have been intensifying efforts to recruit members, establish county offices and organize their internal structures as they prepare for the next General Election.
By Elijah Cherutich
New political parties could struggle to meet electoral compliance deadlines compared with established outfits that already have the structures and infrastructure needed to complete the process, Nakuru advocate Benhard Ng’etich has warned.
With the October 30 deadline for certification of nomination rules approaching, Ng’etich said newer parties and those undergoing rebranding faced a greater challenge in organizing their affairs and meeting the requirements.
“October 30, 2026 according to the gazette notice by IEBC is so close, about two weeks only and as such everyone must comply to submit the nomination rules and therefore political parties have a huge task at the moment”, he said.
He said established parties were better placed to meet the requirements because they already had functional structures, while newer outfits were still working to establish themselves and organize their operations.
Ng’etich added that parties seeking to change their names and identities also needed to finalize the necessary procedures, including securing approval for their new names, symbols and colors within the stipulated timelines.
The warning comes as Kenya’s political landscape continues to evolve ahead of the August 10, 2027, General Election, with several parties provisionally registered this year facing the additional task of meeting statutory requirements for full registration.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties requires provisionally registered parties to recruit at least 1,000 members in each of at least 24 counties, establish offices in those counties and demonstrate regional, ethnic and gender diversity in their governing bodies. They must also submit membership records and meet other legal requirements before obtaining full registration.
The tight electoral calendar is already shaping the political choices of established leaders seeking new platforms.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has adopted The Equitable Party (TEP), an existing registered party, as his political vehicle after concerns that registering a new outfit in time for the 2027 elections could prove difficult.
His Linda Mwananchi Movement is pursuing a rebranding process, with Sifuna saying the immediate priority was to complete the necessary administrative requirements.
“My party right now is completing the rebranding process, we have IEBC and ORPP registrations to think about. Conversations about coalitions and alliances will come later,” Sifuna said on October 9.
The senator’s decision to use an existing party reflects the risk facing political movements that begin the registration process too late. A full registration of Linda Mwananchi could extend beyond the IEBC’s presidential nomination window scheduled for May 29 to June 11, 2027, potentially preventing it from participating under that name in the presidential race
Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s political camp is facing a different obstacle in its effort to rebrand the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party as The Ukombozi Alliance.
Today, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal issued interim orders barring the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties from approving, registering or gazetting the proposed name change pending the determination of a dispute over the name. The case involves a petitioner who says the name Ukombozi People’s Party had already been reserved. The tribunal scheduled a mention for October 29.
The ruling came days after Kalonzo said his political outfit was completing the compliance process following the reservation of the proposed name.
“The party is now completing the compliance requirements that follow, and we are handling them diligently. We shall update Kenyans as each milestone is reached,” Kalonzo said in a statement.
The tribunal’s orders have since placed the proposed rebranding on hold, leaving the coalition to resolve the legal dispute before the name change can proceed.
Meanwhile, the electoral timetable imposes immediate obligations on all parties intending to participate in the 2027 elections. The IEBC requires political parties to submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorized officials by October 15. Nomination rules must be submitted to the Registrar by October 16 for certification by October 30, before being forwarded to the IEBC by November 6.
Failure to complete the necessary procedures could complicate parties’ preparations for the elections, particularly where registration or rebranding disputes remain unresolved. However, the specific consequences will depend on the requirement missed and the applicable legal provisions.
Ng’etich said timely submission of nomination rules was important in ensuring aspirants were subjected to fair and transparent selection processes, strengthening democratic participation and contributing to better governance.
He said political parties had a responsibility to align their activities with the law to safeguard the democratic space for those seeking elective positions.
Across the country, parties have been intensifying efforts to recruit members, establish county offices and organize their internal structures as they prepare for the next General Election.
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