- Attempts by a section of Kenya to have the name reserved for future use flopped after the ORPP declined the request.
- Simon Maina Mwangi had written to ORPP requesting to have the names reserved.
Image: STEPHEN ASTARIKO/FILE
The Registrar of Political Parties has declined to reserve names related to Gen Z for the purposes of registering political parties.
Attempts by a section of Kenya to have the name reserved for future use flopped after the ORPP declined the request.
Simon Maina Mwangi had written to ORPP requesting to have the names reserved.
The names he sought reserved are Gen-Z Movement, Gen-Z National Movement, Gen-Z People's Alliance, Gen-Z People's Movement, Gen-Z Democratic Party, Gen-Z Alliance Movement, Gen-Z Democratic Movement, Gen-Z Political Party, Gen-Z United Movement and Gen-Z Alliance Party.
"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) of the constitution," the ORPP said in a letter dated July 11, 2024.
But in response to ORPP's rejection, Maina has vowed to challenge the decision at the Political Parties tribunal arguing that the reason cited doesn't hold water.
"If you say Gen-Z is discriminatory, what about Farmers Party, is everybody a farmer? We'll be moving to the tribunal to challenge the rejection," he said.
Another application by John Onyango Ogenga to have the name Gen-Z party reserved was equally rejected by the ORPP for similar grounds.
Ogenga has since moved to the Political Parties Tribunal to appeal the decision.
Ogenga challenged the registrar after she declined the party name, Gen Z, on the grounds that 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 her refusal 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.
He says that on June 24, 2024, he made an application for the reservation of the name the Gen-Z Party in accordance with Section 4B of the Political Parties Act where he subsequently paid the requisite fees.
He, however, argues that days later, he got a call from the Office of the Registrar where he was informed that his application for registration was rejected for lack of inclusivity.
Ogenga says that the decision of the registrar is unconstitutional.
"The Decision of the Registrar of Political Parties goes against the principles enshrined in the constitution, in particular Articles 10, 20(2), 31(3), 27(4), 28, 36, 38 and 232," lawyer Ogenga states in court documents," he said.
Ogenga also wants to know why the Registrar only stated that the name does not promote inclusivity.
"At the same time, the Registrar of Political Party erred in concluding that the name Gen- does not promote inclusivity being that there are steps to be complied with in accordance to Sections 5, 6 and 7 of the Political Parties Act before the full Registration of a Political Party," he said.
"The decision made by the Registrar of Political Parties was made before she saw the list of members, the regions covered by the political party so that she could conclude that the name does not promote inclusivity."
He adds that the rejection of the name is thus premature, discriminatory and a violation of the political rights of the appellant.