8 new parties receive provisional registration certificates ahead of 2027 contest
By Kenneth Mwenda, July 7, 2026The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued provisional registration certificates to eight political parties after they met the initial legal requirements set under Kenya’s Political Parties Act.
Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou issued the certificates on Monday, July 6, 2026, at the ORPP headquarters in Nairobi, marking the first step towards the parties attaining full registration.
The parties that received provisional registration certificates are Alliance for Democratic Association (ADA), People Salvation Party of Kenya (PSP-K), Neema Congress Party (NCP), One Nation Movement (ONM), Shikana Frontliners for Unity Party (SFUP), National Forum Party (NFP), People Prosperity Party (PPP), and National Integration Party (NIP).
The ORPP said the provisional registration allows the parties to begin building their structures as they work towards meeting additional requirements for full registration.
While issuing the certificates, Lorionokou urged the new political parties to operate within their founding constitutions and remain focused on addressing governance and political issues affecting Kenyans.
“The certification today must not be just about adding to the number of political parties, but critically as entities that stand for governance, meaningful inclusion and keen on transformation and sustainability,” Lorionokou said.
He asked the founding members to remain committed to their parties’ ideologies and evaluate the role they intend to play in the country’s political space.
“As founding members, remain steadfast to the founding ideologies while assessing the value you bring to the country and ways to act differently to better the lives of Kenyans,” he added.
Parties given compliance deadline
The Registrar said political parties have a responsibility beyond electoral competition, including promoting leadership, public participation and solutions to national challenges.
The Assistant Registrar, CPA Florence Birya, reminded the parties that registration was only the beginning of their obligations under the law.
Birya said the parties must maintain compliance throughout their existence by establishing proper systems, keeping records, recruiting members and complying with data protection requirements.
“You must maintain compliance throughout your party’s existence. You must continue designing systems, maintain records and undertake recruitment of your members while obtaining necessary consent as per data protection requirements,” she said.
She also urged the parties to promote inclusion by ensuring that special interest groups are represented in key leadership positions.
The ORPP gave the parties 270 days from the date of provisional certification to meet the requirements needed for full registration as provided under the Political Parties Act.
Among the conditions the parties must fulfil are establishing inclusive governing organs, recruiting members across the required county threshold, setting up functional national and county offices, and maintaining proper records and data management systems.
The registration process was coordinated by ORPP Head of Registration Locha Erukudi and officials from different departments who guided the party representatives on compliance requirements.
The ORPP team further reminded the founding officials that political parties must uphold leadership and integrity standards provided for under the Constitution of Kenya, the Political Parties Act and other relevant laws.
The officials from the newly registered parties thanked the ORPP for guidance throughout the registration process. They committed to establishing party structures, increasing membership and complying with statutory requirements before seeking full registration.
The issuance of the provisional certificates adds eight more political parties to Kenya’s growing multiparty landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election. The parties will now be required to demonstrate organisational capacity, national presence and compliance with legal requirements before receiving full registration.