How to Join a Political Party in Kenya

The Constitution of Kenya grants every citizen the right to join a political party of their choice. Article 38(1)(b) states that every citizen has the freedom to make political choices, including:

• Joining a political party
• Participating in party activities
• Recruiting members for a political party

Eligibility for Political Party Membership

To join a political party in Kenya, you must meet the following requirements:
✅ Be a Kenyan citizen
✅ Be at least 18 years old
✅ Not be a member of another political party
✅ Consent to be registered as a member

Each political party sets its own membership criteria in its constitution. Therefore, parties may have additional requirements, such as:

• Payment of membership fees
• Agreement to abide by party rules and regulations

Ways to Join a Political Party in Kenya

You can register as a member of a political party through two main methods:
1️⃣ Manual Registration (Offline)
2️⃣ Online Registration (via e-Citizen Portal)

1. Manual (Offline) Registration Process

📌 Steps to Join a Political Party Manually:

1. Visit the political party’s offices (national or county branch).
2. Fill out a Party Membership Form with details such as:
   • Full name
   • ID or Passport Number
   • Date of birth
   • County, Constituency, and Ward
   • Gender and occupation
   • Phone number and email
   • Party membership card number
   • Signature of the applicant
3. Pay the membership fee (as per party requirements).
4. Receive a membership card after processing.
5. Your name is added to the party’s membership register.

2. Online Registration via e-Citizen

A person can join a political party in Kenya online through the e-Citizen portal.

📌 Steps for Online Political Party Registration:

1. Go to e-Citizen Portal
2. Log in or create an account
3. Click on “Agencies” and search for “Office of the Registrar of Political Parties”
4. Select “Political Party Membership Registration”
5. Choose your preferred political party
6. Follow the prompts to complete registration
7. Confirm and submit your application

After submission, the Registrar of Political Parties verifies your details and updates your membership status.

Rights of a Political Party Member

As a registered member of a political party, you have the right to:
✔ Participate in party activities and events.
✔ Campaign for the party or its candidates.
✔ Contest for leadership positions within the party.
✔ Run for elective office under the party’s ticket.
✔ Vote in party nominations to select candidates for elections.
✔ Access party documents and records.

How to Check Your Political Party Membership Status

You can verify your political party membership online using e-Citizen.

📌 Steps to Check Political Party Membership:

1. Go to e-Citizen Portal
2. Log in to your account
3. Click on “Agencies” and search for “Office of the Registrar of Political Parties”
4. Select “Political Party Membership Status”
5. View your current membership details

If you are not a member of any party, you will see a message:
🚨 “You are currently not a registered member of any political party.”

Conclusion

Joining a political party in Kenya is a straightforward process that can be done manually at party offices or online through e-Citizen. Once registered, members can actively participate in political activities, including party nominations and elections. To avoid fraud, it is important to verify membership status and ensure registration was done with your consent.