Eugine Wabwile 
BY ALEX WEKESA
The County Assembly of Bungoma hosted Registrar of Political Parties John Lorionokou on Tuesday for high-level talks aimed at strengthening democratic governance at the county level.Lorionokou led a senior delegation from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) that included Assistant Registrar Agatha Wahome, Deputy Directors Jane Kamau and Andia Khaseke, Director of Compliance Daniel Kinuthia, and other heads of department.
Speaking during the consultative meeting, Lorionokou said the ORPP has launched a nationwide tour to collect citizen views and deepen public understanding of political parties’ role in governance. The office is working to open branches in all 47 counties to improve service delivery and accessibility.“We will continue conducting civic education and sensitizing voters on our mandate while appealing for support from all stakeholders,” he said.The Registrar emphasized that MCAs are a critical link between citizens and governance institutions. “MCAs, as elected leaders, are the first point of contact for the electorate. We shall continue engaging them to strengthen collaboration,” he stated.
County Assembly Speaker Emmanuel Situma welcomed the delegation and urged more action to bridge the gender gap in leadership. He described the low number of women in elective office as a major challenge and called for 50:50 representation.Situma also condemned political violence, saying it continues to discourage women from participating in politics. He challenged political parties to conduct free, fair, and inclusive nominations that give women equal opportunities.“I urge the ORPP to intensify civic education so that citizens can better understand how political parties are formed, funded, and managed,” the Speaker added.
Lorionokou also highlighted ORPP’s mandate in resolving intra-party disputes, noting that effective conflict resolution builds stronger political institutions. He commended Bungoma Assembly for promoting dialogue in settling internal disagreements.The meeting underscored the need for closer collaboration between political institutions and county governments to strengthen democracy, inclusivity, and public participation.
