Babu Owino Sets Record Straight On Linda Mwananchi Party’s Name Transition

The Mwananchi Party has issued an official statement outlining the regulatory chronology behind its structural transition from Linda Mwananchi, with Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino emphasizing that the party’s registration status should be understood strictly through formal records provided by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).

According to an official statement released on Thursday, September 24, 2026, party leadership engaged the ORPP on August 4 to seek procedural clarity regarding the reservation and registration status of the Linda Mwananchi identity.

Official correspondence from the ORPP confirmed that the formal transition to The Mwananchi Party officially took effect on September 10, following full compliance with statutory requirements.

“The official change of name to The Mwananchi Party was subsequently effected on 10th September 2026, as reflected in the correspondence issued by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. It is therefore important that the events surrounding the matter are understood within their proper chronology,” the party statement read.

According to the Registrar’s documentation, the name change proceeded after no public objections were received following a Gazette Notice published on August 28 inviting public submissions. Although a separate petition objecting to a proposed change from the Muungano Party to The Mwananchi Party was filed on August 30, the petitioner formally withdrew the objection on September 8 after addressing the underlying concerns.

“In light of the foregoing, the Registrar hereby notifies the party that the change of name has taken effect, pursuant to Section 20(5) of the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D,” the ORPP confirmed in its final determination.

The release of the regulatory timeline comes amid broader disputes surrounding ownership of the “Linda” brand identity. Officials from the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) had previously challenged the use of the name, claiming rights to the identity, symbols, and branding since initiating their registration process in November 2024. The brand dispute subsequently reached the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, where a petition concerning the name reservation had been certified as urgent.