BY SAM ALFAN.
President William Ruto’s ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party has suffered a major blow in its bid to get more political funds.
The party, which has more seats in Parliament was allocated Sh577.1 million by the Registrar of Political Parties for 2022/2023 financial year but UDA disputed the amount.
A petition filed by UDA at the Political Parties Tribunal was dismissed by a four member tribunal for lack of merit.
The tribunal chaired by Desma Nungo and members including Dr Kenneth Mutuma, Flora Maghanga-Mtuweta and Ruth Muhoro upheld allocation given to the party by the RPP.
“Having found that the appellant (UDA) has not proved the case on balance of probabilities, the only option left is to have the appeal dismissed,” ruled the Tribunal.
The tribunal found that the Registrar of Political Parties distributed the monies in accordance with the law.
The Tribunal further said the ruling party failed to show that the funds were distributed in breach of the law.
While appreciating that there exists a grey area on the question of distribution of PPF in instances where political party gains uncontested electoral seat in respect to an electoral area, the tribunal suggested a law to cure the area.
“This requires legislative intervention and we accordingly recommend that Parliament addresses its mind in to the treatment of unopposed elective seats with respect to distribution of the fund in view to bring certainty or clarity,” the chairperson said.
According to President Ruto’s party, the Registrar erred by allocating political parties funds without referring to any known legal formula or logistical basis thereby conferring irregular advantage to some political parties at the expense of UDA Party .
The party faulted the Registrar for miscalculating the total number of votes garnered by the UDA party in the preceding general elections in the elections of President, Member of Parliament, Governors and MCAs.
UDA urged the Tribunal to direct that the Registrar to exclude votes from any party or coalition that did not secure any elective seat when computing the amount of funds to be allocated to political parties from fund.
The party told the Tribunal that no computation was provided to show how the said figures was originated and that the Registrar did not respond UDA’s multiple requests and prodding seeking information and particulars relating to the distribution and computational breakdown.
The Registrar opposed the appeal arguing that the formula for the allocation of Political Parties Funds is spelt out in law and that the funds are allocated to political parties based on the results of the general election which includes elective seats and votes secured by the political party.
The Registrar maintained that only political parties and coalitions have been allocated the funds adding that the electoral body supplied them with the results of the August 9 election results.
