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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.

The Service Party, TSP leader Mwangi Kiunjuri appeared before the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, to dissect his proposed amendment to the IEBC Act, in a proposed Bill dubbed Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (Amendment) Bill, 2023.

The Bill according to Kiunjuri seeks to introduce a raft of amendments that if passed by parliament would help to resolve population inequalities within constituencies ,that according to him undermines the requirements for universal suffrage based on the aspiration for fair representation and equality of the vote.

‘’Fundamental to realisation of this principle and to resolving inequalities in constituency sizes in Kenya is the recognition that the equal opportunity to cast a vote – which is fully realised in Kenya- can mean very little if the strength of that vote is not equal. Critical to fair constituency boundary is the fact that even though the Constitution permits other factors-‘geography, economics, urban-rural conflict, and other non-legal factors – to be considered in the drawing of constituency boundaries, these other factors are weighting factors.’’ Said Kiunjuri

Kiunjuri who doubles up as the Member of the National assembly for Laikipia East said the changes if effected would cure the inequalities, and further protect the fundamental right to representation as guaranteed in the constitution of Kenya

‘’Current electoral inequalities cannot be resolved within a single member constituency system like ours: Inter-county differences in constituency sizes cannot be resolved by an electoral system – like ours- that is only based on territorial constituencies. In urban areas, one could end up with unreasonably small constituencies- a few high-rise apartments- whilst in rural areas- the size of constituencies would make representation impossible.’’ Said Kiunjuri

‘’This legislative proposal recommends that Parliament fundamentally re-think the design of our electoral system and adopt constitutional reforms that embrace a combination of territorial constituencies and political party lists. That would mean moving Kenya from the single member constituency-based system we now have to a Mixed Member Proportional Representation System, MMR. In such a system, parties would present MPs for election in single-member constituencies and then after those elections they would be allocated seats in proportion to the number of votes they get.’’Kiunjuri said

The Justice and legal Affairs Committee is expected to deliberate on the Bill, before making a determination of whether it will be presented before the plenary for debate.

Elected leaders under The Service Party (TSP) from Tharaka Nithi County have moved in to assist a bright but needy student access university education.

Led by Tharaka Nithi Woman Representative in the National Assembly Hon. Susan Ngugi, the leaders accompanied Ann Kathambi as she joined Chuka University where Hon. Ngugi pledged to support the girl achieve her dreams.

Kathambi will pursue Bachelor’s Degree in Clinical Psychology, a course she says will equip her with necessary skills to serve her community.

Like Kathambi, hundreds of other bright but needy students in Tharaka Nithi will benefit from an allocation of over Kshs. 3.8 million shillings bursary from the office of the Woman Representative.

The Service Party (TSP) has signed a working agreement with like-minded party leaders under the Kenya Kwanza coalition. TSP leader Mwangi Kiunjuri led officials of the party including Secretary General Dr. Mwenda Makathimo and National Chairperson Brown Munyoroku, along a team of party’s legal team.

Under the agreement, The Service Party (TSP) now becomes a constituent party in the coalition, although it remains a distinct and independent party.

After signing the agreement which was also witnessed by the Kenya Kwanza presidential flagbearer and UDA party leader William Ruto, ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and FORD-K leader Moses Wetangula, TSP leader said that the resolve to join the coalition was anchored on the policies and objectives of the coalition, key among them being economic reforms and achieving food security for all Kenyans.

‘’ We as TSP family are happy to join you today. We came here because we have a purpose. When we look through Kenya Kwanza, and we have been following closely the activities of the coalition, we believe we are in the right formation.’’ Kiunjuri said

Kiunjuri termed high cost of living as the greatest undoing for the current administration, saying that nothing is expected to change should the next administration be led by the Azimio brigade.

‘’ what we are looking for today is not about big words, we are concerned about the suffering of Kenyans. Every Kenyans crying because of high cost of living. You look at this Azimio coalition and wonder what is happening with them, but sometimes God work in miracles. If you see how they tabled this budget, you can tell that the writing is on the wall.’’ Kiunjuri said

Other parties joining the Kenya Kwanza coalition include Moses Kuria’s CCK, William Kabogo’s Tujibebe Wakenya Party, The Farmers Party led by Irungu Nyakera and The Communist Party of Kenya among others.