The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has quashed the application of 10 names for new Gen Z political parties, citing a lack of inclusivity.
Registrar Ann Nderitu stated that the application violated Article 91 (1) (a) (e) of the Constitution and thus could not be approved. According to the Constitution, a political party must have “a national character as prescribed by an Act of Parliament” and “respect the right of all persons to participate in the political process, including minorities and marginalized groups.”
Applicant Simon Maina Mwangi had sought to reserve the following names for political parties:
• Gen-Z Movement
• Gen-Z National Movement
• Gen-Z Alliance Movement
• Gen-Z Democratic Movement
• Gen-Z People’s Alliance
• Gen-Z United Movement
• Gen-Z People’s Movement
• Gen-Z Political Party
• Gen-Z Democratic Party
• Gen-Z Alliance Party
Meanwhile, a petition has been filed with the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal to compel Nderitu to register “The Gen Z Party” as an official political entity. James Ogega filed the petition after the Registrar of Political Parties rejected his request to reserve and register the name, as per Section 4B of the Political Parties Act, despite having paid the requisite fees.
“Three weeks after making the application, the appellant received a call on July 16, 2024, from an officer of the Respondent informing him of a letter from the Registrar of Political Parties for his collection,” read the official court documents seen by Citizen Digital.