Blog

The leadership of TSP convened recently in Nairobi (May 19th 2025) to deliberate on issues affecting the party and strategize on how to keep the party compliant

During the meeting which jointly was supported by the Center for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) and the party, the Executive Director of CMD, Frankline Mukhwana, acknowledged TSP’s role as a member of the Steering Committee and thanked the party for its support. He challenged the party to ensure that its leaders had what it takes to transform the current political culture where parties were in competition of seats rather than ideas.

While opening the meeting, the party Secretary General Dr. Mwenda Makathimo, welcomed the support that CMD has been extending to TSP. He further commended the secretariat staff for ensuring that the party remained compliant and kept delivering on the approved work plan. He also thanked the elected leaders for their continued support to the party

The two party organs acknowledged the dynamic and challenging political context that they were navigating and committed to meeting more often to keep the party vibrant

For the 3^rd year running, TSP has participated at the PDF and what an experience each has been! The camaraderie that political parties interact with is so beautiful to watch. The contacts made have created lasting and meaningful post-PDF inter-party relations. At TSP we value this. The People’s Dialogue Festival 2025 edition (March 5-8) was hosted at the remodeled Uhuru Park in Nairobi, a venue that provided a unique spread out of the several villages and exhibitions

TSP practice is to stand out and stand out we did, presenting unique ideas like governance and politics edutainment card game on matters constitution, political parties and elections and most importantly, the Future Leaders Program a program that brought high school students from Embu, Laikipia, Kirinyaga and Tharaka Nithi to give them a chance for exposure to the world of governance, leadership and participation.

It was a great experience for the young upcoming leaders to interact with others and also with our party leadership – Deputy Party Leader Hon Susan Mwindu (County MP Tharaka Nthi, Members of County assembly (Lydia Muriithi – Nominated MCA Kirinyaga County & Charles Nyamu, MCA Murinduko Ward, Kirinyaga County), Party CEO, Youth Chairperson and Party Secretariat staff

We are looking toward scaling up the program and explore more opportunities for the Future Leaders Programme through subsequent editions of PDF and beyond

On January 28th 2025, our Kirinyaga team led by our indefatigable nominated MCA Mrs. Lydia Muriithi organized a prayer service to bless the branch office and seek God’s guidance for the new year.

With her is Fr Peter Kamande from Baricho Parish, TSP elected MCAs Hon Charles Nyamu of Murinduko Ward and Hon Kiragu Muthura of Thiba Ward and some party members.

Last year, the Party developed a Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (see
Downloadables), with a view to, among others, pursue political leadership that is
issue-based, build the capacity and train party leaders that can be drivers of as far
as this strategy is concerned.
Further, following a study tour to Denmark through our partnership with the Center
for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) in August this year, TSP has undertaken a very
successful training of Youth Leaders from six Counties dubbed “Strengthening
Young Leaders on Policy Localization Strategies” and is planning more activities
based on the commitments made from the study tour.
As part of our commitment to promoting the inclusion of Special Interest Groups, this
training was attended by 12 male and 12 women who benefitted from expert input on
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), TSP 10 Plus Points Agenda, Localization
Strategies and Effective Use of social media for Policy Advocacy including
monetization of content.

Training Workshop – Implementing TSP’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategy

Most political parties in Kenya face the challenge of aligning citizen priorities at the local level with their party development agendas. As such, often, citizens are unable to see their parties’ impact at the local branches level.

Localizing party agenda at the local branch levels is one way of making our political parties issue-driven and even more importantly strengthening branches by ensuring that they actively drive the local communities’ policy agenda through localization strategies.

The study tour to Demark (17th -26th August 2024) was organized  through a program of the Centre for Multiparty Democracy (CMD) and Danish Liberal Democracy Program(DLDP). DPLP brings together four Danish political parties – The Social Democratic Party, The Conservative Peoples Party, Green Left and The Liberal Party of Denmark.

This three-year project is called: “Citizen centered policy making and pursuance of the SDGs in Political Parties” and has the overall objective as:

• Ensuring political parties’ policy formulation at national and county levels reflects citizens development priorities and concerns and relates to the SDGs.
• County branches effectively advocate for the needs and concerns of constituencies, develop and offer solutions and link these to County and National policymaking and planning process.
• National level leadership of political parties commit to support and actively engage with county branches
• Sustainable platforms for multi-actor dialogue align community needs and policy priorities with the county and national policy agendas, including the SDG

The project involves the following Kenyan parties:

• Kenya Union Party, KUP
• Orange Democratic Movement, ODM
• United Democratic Alliance, UDA
• Devolution Empowerment Party, DEP

The project activities are mainly happing in four out of the 47 counties in Kenya:

• Meru -Tharaka Nthi
• Nairobi
• Narok
• West Pokot

Following the study tour, TSP has undertaken a very successful training of Youth Leaders from six Counties dubbed “Strengthening Young Leaders on Policy Localization Strategies” and is planning more activities based on the commitments made from the study tour.

From L: Annabel Njoki, Member of TSP’s Dispute Resolution Committee, Wambui Kimathi, CEO and David Nyaga, Member, Tharaka Nthi

From L: Pamela Inoti (CMD), Eng Alfred (Devolution Empowerment Party- DEP), Brian Mbogua, (UDA) and Wambui Kimathi (TSP)

From L: Veronica Waithera (DP), Wambui, Torome ODM), Annabel and Pamela

On 18th November, 2023, Our party leader, Hon Mwangi Kiunjuri, joined family & friends to witness and celebrate the marriage of Mr Charles Nyamu and Miss Evangeline Karimi.

Hon Charles is our MCA for Mikinduri Ward, KIRINYAGA County.

The wedding was held on 18th November, 2023 at Mugambacura Catholic Church, Kirinyaga County

The Service Party (TSP) Leader Mwangi Kiunjuri appeared before the Justice and Legal Affair committee for the second time, to expound on his proposed Amendment to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission Bill of 2023, that seeks to amend sections of the IEBC Act.

Key among the proposals that the Amendment Bill seeks to change, is the parameters used in the delimitation of boundaries. In His Amendment Bill, Kiunjuri is proposing that population be the primary parameter during the delimitation of boundaries by IEBC, a move he says will cure disparities in resources distribution…

‘’we must come up with a formula of even setting constituencies in Kenya, for example look at Nairobi, it has 18 constituencies. Nairobi cannot expand, but its population is expanding. How are we going to deal with that in future if we want to deal with equality of the vote? The weight of the vote. TJ Kajwang with 150 voters and a population of more that 500 thousand people, his weight of vote cannot be the same as that of Mwangi Kiunjuri with 40 thousand voters and a population of about 200 thousand people.’’ Kiunjuri said

In his argument, Kiunjuri who is doubles up as Laikipia East Member of the National Assembly says that these inequalities put some constituencies at a loss, especially when constituencies become the locus of government resource allocation and opportunities.

‘’what we are saying, let us have this framework, so that for example in Nyeri county, we can align the constituencies in a manner that we will not have some constituencies with the same county having huge population yet all other parameters e.g. communication, geographical etc are the same.’’ Kiunjuri said

Kiunjuri allayed fears that the 27 protected constituencies will not be affected, as the amendment does not seek to alter the constitution, but rather alter the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission mode of boundaries delimitation.

Kagucia – We may want to do delimitation within a county so that we have equal opportunities, but if the population within the county falls under the set quota, does it mean the county end up losing a constituency. Then what would be our stand for the 27 constituencies protected who didn’t meet the threshold.

‘’ If we can make the IEBC Act responsive to these critical elements of representation, – equal weight of the vote and fair representation, we shall have served Kenyans and Kenya’s electoral democracy well.’’ Kiunjuri said

The fate of the Bill now lies with the JLAC, as it retreats to draft its report of recommendations to either allow the Bill to face the whole house on the plenary.