Sifuna party faces questions over missing grassroots elections ahead of NDC

By  Joseph Wangui

Correspondent

Nation Media Group

What you need to know:

• Mr Khamala questions whether the party followed its rules in selecting delegates, claiming that registered members have been excluded.
• Through his lawyer, Danstan Omari, he complains that the party unveiled leaders of the proposed Linda Mwananchi Movement without subjecting their appointments to scrutiny or giving registered members an opportunity to vet and approve them.

A fresh complaint has been filed to stop the national delegates conference of Senator Edwin Sifuna’s The Equitable Party (TEP), scheduled for November 13, 2026. The complainant accuses the party’s leadership of bypassing grassroots elections.

Emmanuel Willyngtone Khamala wants the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to suspend the meeting, arguing that the party has not elected the branch and county officials needed to form a National Delegates Conference (NDC).

The dispute comes as two other complaints are pending determination at the tribunal, while Mr Sifuna seeks to transform the party into the Linda Mwananchi Movement ahead of the 2027 General Election. The party was unveiled on October 4, and its National Executive Committee resolved four days later to change its name. The Registrar of Political Parties began the gazettement process after receiving the party’s resolution and supporting documents, and the proposed name change was published in the Kenya Gazette on October 16.

The party was founded in 2022, and Mr Sifuna took it over in October 2026 after negotiations with its founding officials, who stepped aside to pave the way for his leadership.

Mr Khamala questions whether the party followed its rules in selecting delegates, claiming that registered members have been excluded. Through his lawyer, Danstan Omari, he complains that the party unveiled leaders of the proposed Linda Mwananchi Movement without subjecting their appointments to scrutiny or giving registered members an opportunity to vet and approve them.

He describes himself as a fully paid-up member and says the party has not held grassroots elections since its formation.

“Since TEP’s inception, no grassroots elections have been conducted to properly elect branch officials, county representatives, or polling station committees as required under the party constitution,” the complainant says.

He argues that branch executive committees, county coordinating committees and regional structures have therefore not been properly established. Under the party constitution, the NDC draws delegates from elected branch executive committees, county coordinating committees and accredited regional structures. He says that without elected structures, the party cannot verify delegates or establish the 30 percent quorum of eligible members required.

'Breaches Constitution'

In the complaint, Mr Khamala says the planned conference breaches the Constitution of Kenya 2010, the party’s rules and the Political Parties Act. He also asks the tribunal to order TEP to provide “a list of invited delegates” before the meeting.

The complaint names the party’s National Executive Committee, National Elections Board, Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, Registrar of Political Parties and Political Parties Liaison Committee as respondents. Mr Sifuna is listed as an interested party.

Mr Khamala challenges the authority of interim officials, saying unelected office holders cannot exercise powers reserved for elected officials. He also questions whether the party appointed a National Elections Board to oversee elections and nominations.

The proposed changes to the party’s name, symbol, colours and headquarters form another part of the dispute. Mr Khamala says the party rules require such changes to be approved by at least two-thirds of members present and voting at the conference. He argues that the threshold cannot be established without knowing the number of eligible delegates, and that the rules require a two-thirds quorum for meetings considering fundamental changes and a two-thirds majority for the resolutions.

The complaint also questions the proposed election of party officials. Mr Khamala says elections must be conducted by an independent National Elections Board, and that the NDC notice does not show that the board was properly appointed. He cites the party’s Election and Nomination Rules, saying election rules should be drafted by the board and approved by the National Governing Council before being presented to delegates.

He says he raised the concerns with party officials in an October 28 letter, seeking the delegate list, explanations about appointments and answers on the proposed changes, and that he received no satisfactory response. In the letter, he demanded that the party “cancel or postpone” the conference and “conduct transparent grassroots branch elections.” He also sought publication of the delegates’ names before the meeting.

The case follows other challenges to the November 13 meeting. Paul Kiragu Gachoka and Pamela Achieng Simwata have separately questioned the agenda, delegate selection and proposed constitutional changes. Another member, James Onyango Nyangor, has also challenged the proposed elections, citing a 21-day notice requirement.

Mr Khamala’s case raises a separate question about the delegates and structures behind the conference. The tribunal has yet to determine his application.