Acting Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu has rejected the name ‘Jubilee Asili’ for failing to comply with section 8 of the Political Parties Act, 2011.
According to a report by The Standard on June 26, the response came after 30-year-old businessman, Andrew Simiyu attempted to register the name on Wednesday, June 17.
In a letter dated June 22 seen by the local daily, the registrar noted, “This is to inform you the name suggested is not in compliance with section 8 of the Political Parties Act, 2011. Further and without prejudice upon registration of the party the name shall not be in line with Article 91 of the Constitution of Kenya.”
The Act determines that the registrar may decline an application if a party bears a similar name, abbreviation and symbol of another outfit.
As evidenced by banners showcased during the launch of the Jubilee Asili Centre at Kilimani, Nairobi, the breakout party bears a similar name ‘Jubilee’, with a similar handshake symbol.
However, Simiyu protested the ruling by Registrar saying that “There is no resemblance whatsoever between Jubilee Party and Jubilee Asili. I went to the registrar on June 18 to conduct a search and preserve the name and everything was okay. I believe strongly that the rejection of registration is not just the position of the registrar, but is more political.
Gatundu South MP, Moses Kuria who reportedly runs operations at the centre had earlier on acknowledged this.
"What I know is that it is not possible to register such a name according to the Political Parties Act," Kuria detailed.
Political Analyst Herman Manyora, while speaking to Kenyans.co.ke noted that alternatively, the breakout faction can choose to use a different name.
“The reservation of a party is not open-ended. If someone else has already reserved a name there is nothing you can do about it,” he explained.
Soy MP and Jubilee Deputy Secretary-General Caleb Kositany had earlier on declared that they would register the party under a new name if attempts to register Jubilee Asili were blocked.
"A name is just a name. If they register it, we can still pick another one and we are not short of options. It is time for those who were rejected at the Jubilee headquarters to express their mind," Kositany stated.