Updated 28 October 2026
To check political party membership in Kenya, dial *509# on your phone, use the Verify Membership service on eCitizen or the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) system, or walk into any ORPP office with your original ID. All channels are free apart from the normal network charge (KSh 1 for USSD). If you find you were registered without your consent, you can resign the same way and ORPP removes your name. Updated October 2026.
Updated October 2026. Official sources: ORPP online services and ORPP FAQs; IEBC press release on election preparedness, 20 August 2026 (read 28 October 2026).
Why you should check political party membership now
The 2027 General Election is set for Tuesday 10 August 2027, and IEBC says political parties must submit their membership lists to the Commission by Tuesday 16 March 2027. If a party has listed you without your consent, it affects you directly: a person can belong to only one party, and anyone who wants to run as an independent candidate must not have been a party member in the three months before election day. For the full election calendar, see our Kenya election 2027 guide.
4 ways to check political party membership
| Channel | How | Cost | Speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| USSD | Dial *509# (available on the two leading networks) | KSh 1 network charge | Instant |
| Online | eCitizen (ORPP Verify Membership) or ORPP’s political parties management system | Free apart from data | Instant |
| Walk-in | Any ORPP office, including county offices, with your original national ID or passport | Free | Immediate |
| Written request | Letter to the Registrar with your full name, ID or passport number and a copy of the document | Free | Within service charter timelines |
Check by *509#
- Dial *509# from your registered line.
- Follow the prompts for checking membership status. The service shows the party you are registered with, if any.
Check on eCitizen
- Log in to eCitizen (see how to log in to eCitizen if you have trouble).
- Open the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties service.
- Select Verify Membership and confirm your details.
New to eCitizen? Start with how to create an eCitizen account.
What to do if a party registered you without consent
ORPP’s FAQ says: send a complaint by email or letter, with a copy of your national ID or passport, to info@orpp.or.ke, or deliver it to ORPP at Lion Place, Waiyaki Way (1st or 4th floor), or to any county office. After considering it, the Registrar will remove your details from the membership register. You can also resign online or through *509# (see below).
ORPP explains that a party recruits you either by a filled form with your ID copy, by USSD or online, and that the Registrar then sends a consent message to the recruited person, in line with the Data Protection Act, 2019. You become a member only after giving consent. If you never got or answered such a message, say so in your complaint.
How to resign from a political party
- Give written notice of resignation to your party. MPs and MCAs must also notify the Clerk of their House or County Assembly.
- Notify ORPP with a copy of the notice and your ID or passport, at any ORPP office or by email to info@orpp.or.ke. Or resign through *509# or online on eCitizen or ORPP’s system.
- The party, the member or the Clerk must notify the Registrar within seven days of the resignation, and the Registrar then removes the name from that party’s register.
How to join a political party
You can join by filling the party’s form and attaching your ID copy, by *509#, or online through eCitizen or ORPP’s system. ORPP does not recruit members itself. The party must approve digital applications, and you may have to pay a membership fee set by the party’s constitution.
ORPP contacts
- Lion Place, 1st, 2nd and 4th floors, Karuna Close, Waiyaki Way, Westlands, Nairobi. P.O. Box 1131-00606 Sarit Centre.
- Phone: 020 4022000 or 0118 967 567.
- Email: info@orpp.or.ke.
Not yet a voter? Read our guide on how to register as a voter in Kenya.
Check political party membership: frequently asked questions
What is the USSD code to check political party membership in Kenya?
*509#. It costs the normal subscriber fee of KSh 1, according to ORPP.
Can I be a member of two political parties?
No. ORPP says a person can belong to only one party at a time.
How do I remove my name from a political party I never joined?
Email info@orpp.or.ke with your complaint and a copy of your ID, visit an ORPP office, or resign through *509# or eCitizen. The Registrar then expunges your details.
Is checking political party membership free?
Yes. Online and walk-in checks are free; USSD costs only the KSh 1 network charge.
When must parties submit membership lists for 2027?
By 16 March 2027, according to IEBC’s election timelines.
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