Registrar of political parties Anne Nderitu has threatened to deregister political parties whose members engage in political violence ahead of the 2022 General Election.
In a statement to newsrooms yesterday, Nderitu demanded political parties whose members engaged in acts of violence in recent by-elections should put their houses in order.
She said all parties committed themselves to peaceful electoral processes and it is incumbent on those parties to ensure its members are restrained from misbehaving.
“My office shall not hesitate to deregister political parties that go against the law by entertaining political violence ahead of the General Election. Parties whose members caused chaos in the concluded by-elections should take disciplinary action against them,” she said.
Nderitu said that according to article 91 of the constitution, political parties are not supposed to engage in acts of violence, threats, or attacking members from rival political parties.
The warning by the registrar of political parties comes few days after sporadic violent scenes were witnessed during by-elections in Matungu constituency, Kabuchai constituency as well as London Ward in Nakuru.
Several politicians have since been charged with misconduct including ex-sports CS Rashid Achesa who was caught on camera slapping an election official.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei, Kimilili MP Didimus Barasa, Chesumei MP Wilson Kogo, and their Belgut counterpart Nelson Koech were arrested in Bungoma during the Kabucahi by-election.
Kivumbi.co.ke understands they denied all charges of causing chaos in the mini polls and were released on KSh 50,000 bond each.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has also been charged over electoral violence in the Matungu by-election where his party’s candidate won the seat.
On February 20, Nakuru County Senator Susan Kihika and Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri were also arrested shortly after their planned political meeting was disrupted by police in the run-up to London ward by-election.
