By Janet Nyamwamu
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP Kenya) has concluded its third cohort of training for Internal Dispute Resolution Committees (IDRCs), drawing participants from 20 political parties.
The two-day training, held in Naivasha, represents another milestone in ORPP’s ongoing efforts to enhance the institutional capacity of political parties.
Since 2024, more than 60 political parties have benefited from similar training sessions aimed at strengthening Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanisms (IDRMs).
Speaking during the event, the Registrar of Political Parties, Mr John Cox Lorionokou, commended participants for their commitment and reaffirmed the Office’s dedication to promoting sound governance and effective dispute resolution within political parties.
“We aim to enhance parties’ ability to independently and fairly resolve internal disputes to foster trust among stakeholders, including their members and the general citizens,” he said, encouraging participants to share the knowledge gained with their respective party structures.
Assistant Registrar for Regulation and Compliance, Mr Ali Abdullahi, highlighted the importance of functional dispute resolution committees in nurturing internal democracy and effective conflict management.
He noted that the training would help parties to handle disagreements through internal mechanisms and, where necessary, through established appellate bodies such as the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal or the courts.
Assistant Registrar for Finance, PPF and Strategy, Ms CS Agatha Wahome, called on parties to ensure disputes are settled amicably to preserve harmony and uphold principles of good governance and democracy.
Director of Compliance, Mr D. Kinuthia, added that parties should institutionalise robust and proactive systems for handling disputes, advising them to periodically review their constitutions to include progressive provisions for effective conflict management.
The training, organised by Deputy Director for Political Parties Capacity Building, Ms Anastacia Kaberere, covered various aspects of internal dispute resolution, including the nature of common disputes, their impact on party unity, the legal framework governing resolution processes in Kenya, and alternative dispute resolution techniques.
The cohort-based training programme forms part of ORPP Kenya’s broader capacity-building agenda informed by continuous needs assessments.
It underscores the Office’s commitment to fostering internal party democracy, transparency, and accountability.
Through these initiatives, ORPP continues to equip political parties with the knowledge and tools necessary to resolve disputes effectively, thereby contributing to stronger democratic practices in Kenya.
