The Registrar of Political Parties in Kenya has thwarted plans by Gen Z to reserve names they intend to use to register a political party. The efforts are in a bid to popularize the movement countrywide and field candidates in the next general election.
James Ogenga, who represents the movement, moved to the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) after the Registrar turned down their application. He wants the courts to issue a declaration that the decision by the Registrar of Political Parties to reject the reservation of the name the Gen Z Party is discriminatory and unconstitutional.
Ogenga challenged the registrar after she declined the party name, Gen Z because it does not promote inclusivity.
“The learned Registrar misdirected herself by not providing the appellant with her interpretation of the name The Gen-Z Party before she refused to reserve the name. She only states that the name does not promote inclusivity. The name could be given a plethora of interpretations including but not limited to Generation Zote, Generation Zion, General Zod, Gender Z, General Zeus, amongst others,” he argued.
“I Followed Due Process”
Ogenga says that on June 24, 2024, he followed the due process for registration. He made an application for the reservation of the new name for the political party by Section 4B of the Political Parties Act. He also paid the requisite fees as stated in Section 4B of the Political Parties Act.
Days later, he was shocked when he got a call from the Office of the Registrar informing him that his application for registration was rejected for lack of inclusivity.
Ogenga says that the decision of the registrar is unconstitutional. In addition, Ogega pointed out that according to Section 4B (3) of the Political Parties Act, requires the registrar to respond within 14 days. However, he received a response 21 days later.
Statement from the Registrar
The names rejected by Ann, the Registrar of Political Parties, Nderitu include Gen-Z Movement, Gen-Z National Movement, Gen-Z People’s Alliance, Gen-Z Peoples Movement, Gen-Z Democratic Party, Gen-Z Alliance Movement, Gen-Z Democratic Movement, Gen-Z United Movement, Gen-Z Political Party and Gen-Z Alliance Party. In a statement dated July 11, the Registrar explained that after a thorough review, the proposed names did not meet the legal requirements.
“Your application has been considered by law and the names suggested have been rejected as the names do not promote inclusivity, hence against Article 91 (1) (a) (e) of the Constitution,” read the statement in part.
“We understand that the Registrar of Political Parties may be bowing to pressure not to reserve the ten names we have submitted for Generation Z’s political agenda. Since we have a right to participate in good governance of our country, we are going to pursue this matter to its logical conclusion,” said Mwangi. Simon Mwangi is one of the applicants for the Gen Z party.
Mwangi further added that they will be moving to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to challenge Ann’s decision to lock them out. Mwangi said the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties should be turned into a commission to allow several people to participate in making decisions. The current format where only one individual decides and locks out other Kenyans is unrealistic and unreasonable according to him.
