Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou has denied allegations that his office is influenced by the State, stating that its decisions are guided by the Constitution and the Political Parties Act. Lorionokou made these remarks while defending his handling of the controversial application by the Edwin Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi movement to reserve its name as a political party.
The Registrar initially declined the application, citing the existence of another political outfit with the acronym LINDA. However, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal later overturned this decision, directing his office to reconsider the application. Following the tribunal's ruling, the Office of the Registrar approved the reservation of the Linda Mwananchi Movement name for up to 90 days.
Explaining the original decision, Lorionokou stated that the law allows the Registrar to reject a proposed party name where it resembles the name of an existing party or where its slogan could cause confusion. He cited this as the reason for declining to reserve the Linda Mwananchi name. The law provides a clear guideline for such decisions, ensuring that party names do not cause confusion among voters.
Lorionokou was also questioned about why previous registrars had allowed several political parties to use the word "democratic" in their names, while his office raised objections to Linda Mwananchi. He explained that party registration begins with the reservation of a proposed name, and applicants can submit their requests either online or physically.
The Registrar's office checks the proposed name and other details against the office's records. If the application meets the legal requirements, the name is reserved for 90 days, after which the reservation lapses and the name becomes available to other applicants. Lorionokou emphasized that his office does not take instructions from elsewhere in the performance of its work, but rather follows the Constitution and the Political Parties Act.
Lorionokou also highlighted that his office has overseen an increase in the number of registered political parties since he assumed office. When he took over last year, there were 91 registered parties, and another 10 have been registered since then, bringing the total to 101. He maintained that these registrations were conducted without external interference.
The Registrar further stated that decisions made by his office can be challenged before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and the courts, and that his office respects decisions issued by those institutions. He emphasized that the Office of the Registrar is open to public scrutiny and committed to providing Kenyans with fair and impartial services.
Key points
- The Registrar of Political Parties defends his office's decision on the Linda Mwananchi movement's application, citing the law and the need to avoid confusion with existing party names.
