Of M-Pesa and Political Parties

Registration for an M-Pesa account is a relatively easy process - go to an M-Pesa agent, fill in the customer registration form, the agent then uses the personal identification information provided to create you an M-Pesa account on their agent phone, done. How often do we ask the agent how secure our personal identification information is or what else it will be used for? The information is supposed to be private and for the company’s use only, is it not? The last thing one would expect when registering for an M-Pesa account is that the personal identification details provided will be used to register you as a member of a political party without your knowledge or consent.

Of course it stands to reason that M-Pesa would play a big part in the next election. I just expected the role that M-Pesa played in the election would be in the way of money transfers. Money is a big part of the electoral process and M-Pesa is a fast, accessible, relatively cheap and convenient way to transfer money, so why not. However it turns out some have envisaged different use for M-Pesa as far as the electoral process is concerned. Earlier this week the Standard did a story on M-Pesa details being used to register party members.

According to the Chairman of the Political Parties Liaison Committee, Nderitu Gachagua, “Parties are colluding with M-Pesa agents to access data on people’s IDs and use the data to register them as members of their parties without their consent.” According to the Committee Secretary General, Alfayo Agufana the reason some parties are using this strategy to register members is the “tough and expensive conditions” placed on parties by the new Political Parties Act.

The conditions to which Secretary General of Political Parties Liaison Committee refers are the new requirements for party registration. In order for political parties to be fully registered they need to recruit as members no less than one thousand registered voters, from more than half of the counties. Parties then have to submit to the Registrar of Political Parties a list of the names, addresses and identification particulars of all its members (the same details provided on the M-Pesa registration form).

The practice of using M-Pesa details to register party members is not only a violation of the M-Pesa users privacy it is a fraudulent practice that breaches both the constitution and a number of electoral laws (Article of the constitution 91 (2) (d) explicitly requires political parties to refrain from engaging in bribery or other forms of corruption. Article 91 (1) requires that political parties abide by democratic principles of good governance, promote the objects and principles of the Constitution and the rule of law).

Apart from an egregious flouting of the law the practice could have potentially long ranging impact on the next election. Millions of Kenyans are registered M-Pesa users - at one point BBC estimated that more than 50% of the adult population of Kenya use M-Pesa services. If enough registered M-Pesa details were used to register people as party members it could not only turn the fortunes of the political parties involved but could significantly influence the outcome of the next election.

Whether its Safaricom, the Registrar of Political Parties, the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, or the leadership of political parties someone is definitely sleeping on the job. The article makes no mention of the parties involved in the using M-Pesa details to register members, it would be interesting to know which parties are involved, and what Safaricom, the Registrar of Political Parties, and the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission, and political parties are doing to stop the practice.

Posted by Mzalendo Editor on Jan. 20, 2012

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