Political parties e-Citizen platform temporarily closed after online uproar
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has temporarily closed the checking of parties’ membership status through e-Citizen, after the public protested being registered in parties without their consent.
Kenyans took to social media to protest following revelations they had been registered as members of political parties without their knowledge.
ORPP said that the service has been deactivated to allow it factor invaluable feedback receipted.
“The piloting period for checking membership status on E-citizen platform expired on 21st June, 2021. This service has therefore been deactivated to allow ORPP factor in valuable feedback receipted. This Requests received on this matter are being processed,” read the tweet.
The new system known as the Integrated Political Parties Management System (IPPMS) was designed under the ORPP to enable citizens check their membership status without having to send emails.
Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu last week announced that her office was piloting the online service to enable the public to verify their political party membership status.
Kenyans confirmed their membership status through an online portal on eCitizen, a one-stop shop for government services, where they found they have been registered in parties without their consent.
The office of the Registrar of Political Parties later defended itself the new system linked to the government’s e-Citizen platform was a pilot project intended for officials of political parties but the link leaked to the public.
She added that the office was also planning to enhance other services including the management of independent candidates, party membership recruitment and registration.
On Monday, Amnesty International Kenya called on the Office of the Data Protection Commissioner (ODPC) to commence investigations into the irregular party registration.
In a press statement, Amnesty International Executive Director Irungu Houghton urged ODPC to conduct an assessment with a view to ascertain whether ORPP and political parties processed personal data in compliance with the Data Protection Act, 2019.
“Political parties and all data controllers are obligated by the Data Protection Act to collect personal data directly from data subjects. Further, unequivocal, free, specific, and informed consent must always be obtained prior to any processing of personal data. Political parties should therefore take necessary steps to ensure compliance with data protection laws,” he said.
He raised concerns with emerging reports that persons have been involuntarily registered for political party membership.
According to him, this denies Kenyans the right to make free political choices which includes the right to join a political party of their choice.
Further, he added that these developments are a gross violation of the right to privacy and present significant infractions of the Data Protection Act, 2019.
