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Kenya, Sierra Leone and Malawi formalise their commitment to collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the foundation of AAPPRA

From 27 to 29 April 2026, political party regulatory authorities from Kenya (ORPP), Sierra Leone (PPRC) and Malawi (ORPP) gathered in Nairobi for the AAPPRA Conference, a regional meeting focused on strengthening political party regulation and advancing more inclusive and accountable political party systems across Africa.

Hosted by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) of Kenya, the conference brought together regulatory authorities, technical experts and international partners to deepen dialogue, exchange experiences and strengthen institutional cooperation in the field of political party governance.

Over two days of technical sessions, participants engaged in peer learning and discussions on key regulatory challenges and reform priorities. Sessions covered political party financing mechanisms, including Kenya’s Political Parties Fund; the digitalisation of regulatory systems; governance models for effective party oversight; and approaches to conflict prevention and mediation within political parties.

A dedicated session also explored the institutionalisation of women and youth participation in political processes, highlighting both regulatory approaches and structural barriers that continue to limit inclusive political participation across different contexts. Participants shared experiences and identified opportunities for strengthening legal frameworks and enforcement mechanisms to support more inclusive political party systems.

The conference also placed strong emphasis on regional cooperation as a key driver of institutional strengthening. Discussions throughout the sessions highlighted the value of structured exchange among political party regulatory authorities and the potential for coordinated approaches to shared challenges.

The conference culminated in the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding by the three participating regulatory authorities, marking a major milestone in the establishment of the African Association of Political Party Regulatory Authorities (AAPPRA).

The MoU sets out a framework for cooperation focused on peer learning, technical exchange and joint dialogue on key areas such as political party financing, digitalisation, inclusion of women and youth, and conflict mediation mechanisms. It also establishes a phased approach towards the formalisation of AAPPRA as a continental platform, including the development of governance structures, strategic frameworks and pilot initiatives.

By formalising their commitment to collaboration, the regulatory authorities of Kenya, Sierra Leone and Malawi are taking an important step towards building a sustainable regional platform that can support stronger, more transparent and more inclusive political party systems across Africa.

The conference was organised by the Christian Democratic International Centre (KIC), in partnership with the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP), under the WYDE Political Parties project funded by the European Union.

Event: AAPPRA Conference – Strengthening Political Party Regulation and Regional Collaboration in Africa
Date: 27–29 April 2026
Location: Nairobi, Kenya (Villa Rosa Kempinski & Safari Park Hotel)
Host: Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), Kenya
Organised by: Christian Democratic International Centre (KIC) in partnership with PPRC Sierra Leone, ORPP Malawi and ENoP
Project: WYDE Political Parties – funded by the European Union
Participants: Political party regulatory authorities from Kenya, Sierra Leone and Malawi, international partners and technical experts
Main topics: Political party financing, digitalisation, governance models, conflict prevention and mediation, women and youth participation, regional cooperation
Key outcome: Signing of a Memorandum of Understanding establishing the foundation for AAPPRA

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