In Kenya, political party membership is governed by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) in accordance with the Political Parties Act. Under Kenyan law, a citizen cannot legally be registered in more than one political party at a time, and registering anyone without their explicit consent is an offense.

Despite these regulations, many citizens occasionally find themselves erroneously registered as members of political parties without their knowledge or approval. To address this, the ORPP established digital platforms, including a fast USSD shortcode, that allow Kenyans to verify their membership status, resign from a party, or join a new one using a basic mobile phone.

Checking your political party membership via USSD (*509#)

You do not need an internet connection or a smartphone to verify your registration status. The USSD service is available across major mobile networks in Kenya.

Setting up your account

  1. Dial *509# on your mobile phone dial pad.
  2. Accept the terms and conditions when prompted.
  3. Enter your First Name as it appears on your official National Identification Card or Passport.
  4. Select your document type (National ID or Passport) and enter your ID/Passport Number.
  5. Select your gender and review the submitted details.
  6. Once confirmed, you will receive a Personal Identification Number (PIN) via SMS. Keep this PIN safe, as it secures your profile and prevents unauthorized changes to your registration.

Checking your status

  1. Dial *509# again and enter your assigned PIN.
  2. Select the Membership option.
  3. Choose Check Membership Status.
  4. The system will display the political party you are currently registered under, or notify you if you are not affiliated with any party.

How to resign from a Political Party

If you find that you have been registered with a political party without your consent, or if you simply wish to step away from active party politics, you can resign through digital channels or manual submission.

Option A: Resigning via USSD (*509#)

  1. Dial *509# and enter your PIN.
  2. Select Membership, then choose Resign from Political Party.
  3. Confirm your selection. The system will initiate the resignation request with the ORPP database.

Option B: Resigning via eCitizen / IPPMS

  1. Visit the Integrated Political Parties Management System (IPPMS) portal at ippms.orpp.or.ke or log in through your eCitizen account.
  2. Navigate to the political party membership portal.
  3. Submit a digital request to resign or clear your name from the party database.

Option C: Written resignation notice

If you prefer a physical paper trail or are a serving public officer/elected official:
  1. Write a formal resignation letter addressed to the political party’s headquarters.
  2. Ensure the party receives and stamps a copy of your resignation notice as proof of service.
  3. Forward a copy of the stamped resignation notice alongside your National ID or Passport to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).
For a complete step-by-step walkthrough on handling party resignations and resolving wrongful registrations, refer to HapaKenya’s guide on how to deregister from a political party in Kenya.

Why checking your status matters

  • Section 34 of the Political Parties Act and the Data Protection Act protect citizens from being added to party lists without consent.
  • Many public service roles, civil service appointments, and judicial positions require candidates to be politically non-aligned.
  • You hold the constitutional right to join, remain in, or leave any political organization at your discretion.