Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Commissioner Dr Ann Nderitu has urged African countries to work together to strengthen political party regulation.

Nderitu has warned that no single nation has fully perfected how parties are managed and supervised.

Speaking during the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between Registrars of Political Parties from Kenya, Malawi and Sierra Leone on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, Nderitu said the partnership is a major step in improving democracy across the continent.

The three countries officially became the founding members of the African Association of Political Parties Regulatory Authorities (AAPPRA), a new continental body expected to support stronger governance, better party regulation and wider political inclusion.

The ceremony was held in Nairobi on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, and marked the formal launch of an idea that began during Nderitu’s time as the Registrar of Political Parties before she joined the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission.

“IEBC Commissioner Ann Nderitu gave a keynote address during the historic signing of an MoU between the Registrars of Political Parties from Kenya, Malawi and Sierra Leone. The three countries are the founding members of the African Association of Political Parties Regulatory Authorities (AAPPRA),” the statement reads.

She said the new body is important because many African democracies still face challenges in managing political parties fairly, transparently and in ways that strengthen trust among citizens.

Nderitu explained that no country should pretend to have all the answers, adding that learning from one another is the best way to improve political systems and protect democracy across the region.

“No single country can claim to have perfected the regulation of political parties. However, when we come together, we strengthen each other through shared learning, ideas, and experience,” she said.

She noted that the formal launch of AAPPRA should not be viewed as just another institutional event, but as a practical move toward fixing long-standing weaknesses in governance and party management systems.

According to her, stronger party regulation will help reduce conflicts, improve accountability, and create more trusted political institutions that reflect the needs of citizens and protect democratic values.

She added that the platform would also help countries exchange ideas, improve legal frameworks and create systems that are better suited to African realities rather than copying foreign models blindly.

“Further, she acknowledged that the formalisation of AAPPRA was not just another institutional milestone but a strategic shift toward stronger governance systems, smarter political party regulation, cross-border knowledge exchange and more inclusive, resilient democracies,” the statement reads.

Nderitu said Africa’s democratic progress depends on building strong local institutions that understand the continent’s challenges and are ready to support fair participation for all citizens, including women and young people.

“Africa’s democratic future depends on building its own strong, context-driven systems. That growth can only happen through collaboration and sharing ideas, strengthening institutions and advancing inclusive political participation. AAPPRA represents that collective path forward,” she said.