UPDATE: The High Court in Nairobi has dismissed a petition seeking to compel the State to disburse public funds to all registered political parties, ruling that doing so would encourage the commercialisation of Kenya's political space. Justice Lawrence Mugambi upheld the current funding criteria in the Political Parties Act, 2011, which requires a party to have at least one elected representative and physical offices in at least 24 counties to qualify for funding from the Political Parties Fund. The judge says Parliament had acted within its constitutional mandate in enacting the law, adding that there is no evidence of unconstitutionality or discrimination in the requirements. He notes that political representation is the bedrock of party formation and that any outfit seeking public funding must demonstrate an ability to compete in elections.