In response to an affidavit to the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal, Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung'u has denied claims that she maliciously declined to register Nairobi businesswoman Esther Passaris's.
According to Ndung'u, Passari's party 'Harambee Democratic Party' does not comply with section 8 of the Political Parties Act 2001 because it's name is similar to others that have been registered earlier on.
Ndung'u further told the tribunal that the name Harambee is protected legally under section 3 of the National flag, Emblems and Names.
Through her lawyer Maobe Maotsetung, Passaris had strongly contested the Registrar's motives saying that the action had no legal basis and that she had a constitutional right to seek registration of her party under whatever name she liked.
"No one has witnessed refusal to register other parties like Harambee Stars, Harambee Sacco Society which were registered many years ago," Maobe told the court.
He further added that the registrar's action was arbitrary, adding that Ndung'u be ordered to register Passaris's Party as a matter of priority when the Tribunal makes a ruling come October 6.