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President Uhuru Kenyatta has nominated Ann Nderitu for appointment  as the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP).

Nderitu (pictured)  has been acting in the position since the exit of Lucy Ndung’u  in August 15, 2018 on expiry of her term.

In a message sent to the National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi, Uhuru also nominated Ali Abdullahi Surraw,  Florence Tabu Birya and  Makore Wilson Mohochi for appointment as assistant registrars. 

Nominee will have to be vetted and approved by Parliament before their appointment by the President.

Following the nomination, Muturi asked the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee chaired by Kangema MP Muturi Kigano to vet the candidates.

“The committee is advised to expeditiously proceed to notify the nominees and the public, commence the approval hearings in good time and table its report before September 24, 2020 to enable the House consider the matter within the statutory timelines,” directed Muturi.

If approved by the House and formally appointed by the President, Nderitu and her three assistants shall serve for a non-renewable term of six years and shall not be eligible for re-appointment.

Nderitu has been at the centre of focus, especially on her decisions in the wrangles  that have rocked  Jubilee Party, Ford Kenya, Amani National Congress and Third Way Alliance in which she  has been accused of bias in favour of factions allied to the Handshake.

Her position is particularly of interest because she will preside over party disputes ahead of the next election.

Differences  in the Jubilee Party are likely to play out during her vetting in Parliament, as forces allied to Deputy President William Ruto have already raised reservations on her conduct.

According to the Sixth schedule of the Political Parties Act, Parliament has 21 days of receipt of the names to consider the suitability of the nominees and either approve or reject them.