Sifuna’s options amid the battle for Linda Mwananchi

As part of a two-pronged strategy, Linda Mwananchi has sent some of its members to fight a legal battle to reclaim the popular ‘Linda’ brand. At the same time, the party has activated its networks to scout for an alternative name in case it loses the battle.

On Tuesday, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal ruled that the Registrar of Political Parties could not register any new party with the name ‘Linda Mwananchi’ or anything similar, pending the outcome of an appeal lodged by Mr Sifuna’s allies.

This preserves the existing registration process for the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) and the reservation of the name ‘Mwananchi Party’, while protecting the appellants’ interest in ‘Linda Mwananchi’.

Those involved in the legal dispute include Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo and political strategist Pauline Njoki Njoroge. They are challenging the Registrar’s handling of their proposed Linda Mwananchi Movement name.

However, while the legal battle continues, the movement is said to have identified some registered parties with which to agree a rebranding and change of leadership ahead of the August 10 , 2027 general election.

The movement is racing against time to meet the electoral deadlines set by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), including the requirement to submit the names and signatures of members by 15 October. Mr Omondi told the Nation their current challenge is branding and marketing the outfit yet to be unveiled, suggesting they have already chosen a vehicle for the upcoming elections.

Sources indicated that the team is considering the United Democratic Party (UDP), which is being re-branded to Ukombozi People’s Party (UPP). UDP was associated with the late Cyrus Jirongo. The outfit was part of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition in the 2022 elections.

A public notice by UDP Secretary-General Bernard Wafukho indicates plans to rebrand the party by changing its colours to mustard yellow, green, white and navy blue. There is also a proposal to change its slogan to ‘Ngao ya Ukombozi’ and symbol to a ‘Shield’. Other national officials of the party include Antony Chitavi (chairman), Pascilisa Misoi (Treasurer) and Laura Nyangasi (executive director). The Nation was unable to reach any of the officials for comment on the latest developments.

Also being considered is the United Patriotic Movement (UPM) associated with Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale. The outfit is the latest to obtain full registration. According to records by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), UPM obtained full registration on June 25.

In a recent interview with the Nation, Dr Khalwale confirmed his links to the new party. He claimed the party would be home to key political players going into the next poll.

Dr Khalwale is among key political figures behind Mr Sifuna’s 2027 presidential bid.

“UPM is a national party, and it will have the who is who in the political space in this country who is advancing the one-term agenda. Exciting times are coming, and this is the party of the future, not only in Western alone but nationally,” said the senator.

Saboti MP Caleb Amisi has also registered People’s Renaissance Movement (PM). Some of the Linda Mwananchi members have, however, expressed reservations about Mr Amisi’s outfit. The MP has been part of the Linda Mwananchi movement.

In an interview, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi declined to mention some of the outfits the movement is considering over fears of state interference. He, however, confirmed having multiple options to pick from.

“We have been marketing the Linda Mwananchi brand. Kenyans know we are the people behind it, but when we tried to register the name, it was rejected for reasons that do not make sense,” said Mr Osotsi.

“We’ve decided to take the matter to the tribunal. But we want to assure our supporters that there is no cause for concern as we have multiple options,” he said.

He added that preventing them from registering Linda Mwananchi, whose political wave has shaken up the political landscape, would not slow down their political game plan for 2027.

The Vihiga senator said that people are backing the team because of the movement’s vision for the country. He said they still have the backing of a new political banner.

“If they deny us our brand, we will proceed under a new name. It is the personalities and ideals that have made people support us. So having a party is not one of our worries at the moment.”

In order to avoid further interference from the state, Mr Osotsi said that they will announce the name of the new party at the right time. ”We know the government is determined to frustrate us. For now, we can tell our supporters that there is a party. In past elections, parties formed in the run-up to the polls went on to win, including UDA, which was formed ahead of the 2022 elections,” said Mr Osotsi.

Mr Sifuna also made similar remarks during the funeral of Gloria Sekeiyan Khalwale in Kakamega. He said that any other name would still enjoy Kenyans’ backing.

“I want to ask our people to relax. They are trying to deny us our brand because we marketed Linda Mwananchi. But, as the saying goes, a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. If they close all the doors, we will find another party, even if it is the Tent Party of Kenya or the Flower Party of Kenya,” he said.

Mr Omondi, Ms Odhiambo and Ms Njoroge took their case to the tribunal, stating that they had applied on June 4, 2026 to reserve the name, but had initially been rejected on ‘public interest’ grounds. They claim that the Registrar initially agreed to reserve the name following a meeting on August 4, but then reversed this decision three days later.

They claim that the Registrar cited the Liberty National Democratic Alliance, which uses the acronym LINDA, as the reason for the reversal. They appealed to the Tribunal, seeking protection against the Registrar processing, reserving or registering the names LINDA, Linda Mwananchi or similar for another entity.

Yesterday, the Tribunal allowed Liberty National Democratic Alliance to participate in the case as an interested party. Its lawyer initially requested time to study the documents.

The Registrar’s lawyer then proposed a compromise to protect competing interests. He informed the Tribunal that the appellants’ proposed order could affect the reservation of another name by the Registrar. He identified the Mwananchi Party as the entity in question.

“There is a name that has been reserved. That is the Mwananchi Party,” the advocate told the Tribunal, adding that the Registrar wanted the existing LINDA and Mwananchi Party positions to be preserved.

The parties returned with a consent agreement, which the Tribunal adopted as an order once all sides had confirmed the terms.

This allows the status quo on LINDA’s reservation or registration process to remain in place pending the appeal. It also permits the reservation of the Mwananchi Party to continue.

Most significantly, the Tribunal barred the Registrar, its employees and agents, and anyone acting on its behalf, from ‘considering, processing, reserving or registering’ LINDA, Mwananchi or any similar variation for any person or entity except LINDA and the Mwananchi Party.

The Tribunal set the date for the hearing of the appeal as September 14 at 2:30pm.

The Registrar’s lawyer said that the parties were racing against the October 15 Electoral Commission deadline for political parties to submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised officials ahead of the 2027 elections. The IEBC has set October 15 as the deadline for parties intending to participate in the August 2027 elections to submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised officials.

The commission has also set October 30 as the deadline for the certification of party nomination rules, with the certified rules due at the IEBC by November 6.

As of August 13, the appellants/applicants said their digital Linda Mwananchi platform had 55,592 self-subscribed members and 13,232 volunteers.

For now, the consent order prevents the creation of any other variation of Linda Mwananchi while allowing LINDA and the Mwananchi Party to pursue the positions already protected by the Registrar. The case is before the Tribunal for determination.

Records by the ORPP indicate that a total of 37 new parties have obtained provisional registration, including as recently as July 30. Kenya Ahadi Party (KAP), Reformed Patriotic Democrats (REPA), and Chama cha Undugu na Demokrasia (CU) are some of the new parties that got provisional registration on July 30.

Those waiting for full registration include Kenya Democracy for Change Party (KDC), Imarisha Uchumi Party (IUP), Forty-Seven Voices of Kenya Congress Party (VOICES), Vision for Development Alliance (VIDA), Mkenya Daima Party (MKDP), Nationalists Patriotic Party (NP), Citizens Alliance for Democratic Affairs (CADA), Forum for Economic Development Agenda (FEDA) and Forward Kenya Party (FKP).

Also provisionally registered are Freedom and Opportunity Party (FOP), United National Congress (UNC), Prosperity Alliance Party (PALL), National Restoration Movement (NRM), Kenya Great Party (KGP), The Future Party (TFP), United Super Alliance Party (USAP), National Transformation Party (NTP), People Centred Party (PEC) and Alliance for Democratic Association.

An application for provisional registration must then meet several requirements, including founding minutes, a constitution, a statement of ideology and other statutory requirements. Once an application is received, the Registrar must publish a notice inviting objections. A provisionally registered party must then move towards full registration.

Full registration is itself demanding. A party must recruit at least 1,000 registered voters from each of more than half of Kenya's counties, while demonstrating regional and ethnic diversity, gender balance and representation of special-interest groups.

It must also establish offices in more than half of the counties.

Two critical electoral timelines political parties must meet are due in October, which might explain the urgency by the Sifuna faction to have a vehicle they are in control. IEBC has directed political parties to submit the names of their authorised person(s) and their specimen signatures by October 15. Political parties must also have their nomination rules certified by the Registrar by October 30, and submit them to the IEBC by November 6.

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