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Message: [QUOTE="Nehanda, post: 24343, member: 2262"] Kenya Sees Surge in New Political Party Registrations Ahead of 2027 Election. A wave of political party registrations has swept across Kenya as groups prepare to challenge President William Ruto in the 2027 elections. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties reports hundreds of name reservations since the 2022 polls. Between November 2024 and January 2025 alone, 42 new party names were reserved. "These requests number in the hundreds, but we cannot determine who plans to complete the registration process," said Anne Nderitu, the Register of Political Parties. Seven parties have received provisional registration certificates since 2022. These include The We Alliance Party, the Peoples Forum for Rebuilding Democracy, and the National Economic Development Party. Among them, only two have applied for full registration. The registration process remains rigorous. Parties must recruit 24,000 members, with at least 1,000 registered voters from more than half of Kenya's counties. The new Integrated Political Parties Management System has added extra verification steps. "A Kenyan must consent for their name to be registered in a political party. The system sends an SMS requiring verification of registration," Nderitu explained. Notable new reservations include the Freedom and Opportunity Party, Solidarity for Change, and the Progressive Democratic Movement. The list extends to groups like the Unity Party of New Awakening Kenya and the Economic Renaissance Movement. The registry has 45 applications under review, featuring parties such as the United Republicans Alliance Party, Reforms and Renewal Movement, and the Digital Democracy Party. Kenya currently has 101 fully registered political parties, including the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party. This surge in registrations signals intense political activity as groups position themselves for the upcoming election cycle. Manual registrations require the submission of identification documents. This marks a departure from past practices where parties could register members without consent. The new system aims to ensure transparency and prevent unauthorized registrations. The flood of applications comes as political leaders form new alliances and coalitions. These movements indicate early preparations for what promises to be a competitive 2027 presidential race. [/QUOTE]

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