By Eddah Waithaka
Former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko has seized a major political lifeline. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) formally approved and handed him the certificate for his National Economic Development Party (NEDP) on Tuesday.
The move signals a sharp revival for Sonko’s stalled political career. He accepted the certificate at the ORPP headquarters in Westlands, flanked by senior party officials and cheering supporters.
Sonko plans to wield the new NEDP as his vehicle for the 2027 general elections. The successful registration confirms his party met all legal requirements under the Political Parties Act, clearing its path to participate in national politics.
Although Sonko currently leads the NEDP, reports show the party will formally install him as its leader in early 2026.This development marks a dramatic shift for the former governor.
The Senate impeached him in 2020 for gross misconduct, abuse of office, and corruption, a decision the Supreme Court later upheld.
The impeachment permanently barred him from vying for office and triggered a political fallout with senior figures, including former President Uhuru Kenyatta, pushing Sonko into a low-profile role.Now, the NEDP provides him with an independent platform to rebuild his influence.
The ORPP recently approved several other parties, including the People Centred Party (PEC) and the United Super Alliance Party (USAP).
In a Tuesday statement, the Registrar’s office invited members of the public to submit any reservations about the newly registered parties within the next seven days.
