The registrar of political parties in Kenya, Joh Cox Lorionokon, has decried widespread dishonesty among the Kenyan political class whom he claimed had perfected the art of lying to the electorates.
Speaking during a meet the tour people held at the office of the registrar of political in Kisumu, Thursday, Lorionokon lamented that majority of Kenyan politicians were abusing the trust their fellow countrymen and women had bestowed on them.
Lorionokon regretted that there is no true democracy among the Kenyan political class whereby the time Kenyans get to the ballot their choices were predetermined and were merely left to endorse the candidates irrespective of the ideals they stood for.
He cautioned Kenyans to wake up to the reality that they cannot clamor for change yet they are not ready to actively participate in brewing such change.
“Kenyans must wake up to the reality that they cannot clamor for change yet they are not ready to take part in the process to bring that change “cautioned Lorionokon
Lorionokon challenged the young leaders to ascertain that they uphold the foundational national values if the political class has been cannibalized.
He pointed that time was nigh that the country established an institution that would guard and protect the political parties.
He said the country cannot talk about true democracy if there are sections of groups of people excluded from actively participating the political processes.
He noted the need to give the public as much information as possible to enable them make informed decisions as concerns to political parties.
“We need such an informed public that can stand to a leader from a position of knowledge and that that is not true” pointed Lorionokon
The Registrar further disclosed that Kenya currently has 96 fully registered political parties, with another 30 applications pending consideration. He called on the public to evaluate leaders based on their leadership qualities rather than their financial muscle to ensure good governance.
The deputy to the political parties registrar Madam Agatha Wahome speaking at the event appealed to stakeholders to not forget the major function of political parties of creating a cohesive society for Kenyans.
She challenged the participants to be aware of the key tenets of how a national political party should look like including having a national outlook not inclined to any particular region.
The secretary of the Democratic Party of Kenya Kisumu chapter Peter Kochiel emphasized on the need to prioritize addressing the aspirations of the people by the political parties as a key tenet.
He at the same time called for enhanced access to the political parties fund that he decried is currently only being accessed by the major political parties
Isaac Obure of United Green Movement Party criticized the clause that requires that parties need representation from at least from 24 counties in order to be registered as retrogressive and backward
The Nyanza regional coordinator of Safina party, Michael Amimo, condemned the use of goons in political rallies pointing that if the country goes to the dogs, then it shall be for everyone.
Kisumu grassroots political activist, Linda Ogweno, too decried violence during party nominations that she decried lock out many potential women leaders from participating in politics.
Ogweno advocated for the full implementation of the two-thirds gender rule. She also urged the ORPP to introduce mental and psychosocial support structures for candidates who lose elections to mitigate post-election stress.
by Milton Onyango and Mary Aoro
