Kenya Elections: Ann Nderitu on good governance and regulating the country's political parties

Kenya’s party primaries recently closed - a process for political parties to select candidates for the various elective seats in August’s General Election. Ann Nderitu, 47, heads Kenya’s Office of the Registrar for Political Parties (ORPP), which is responsible for registration and regulating of country’s political parties. She speaks to UN Women about the importance of good governance and the steps taken to ensure that this year’s election is more inclusive of female candidates. 

Why did you get involved in politics?

I’m passionate about governance and making things right and I want public service to be a reference point for good service. In 2007, I was an administrator in Limuru [20km from Nairobi, central Kenya] and was responsible for handling survivors of the post-election violence. I saw the suffering of women and children as people were displaced from Limuru or arriving there, fleeing from their homes. It was a desperate situation. That was the trigger - I decided I was going to participate in something that would prevent something like this ever happening again.

Click here to read the full article published by UN Women on 25 May 2022.