Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino has addressed concerns surrounding the name change of The Mwananchi Party. In a statement released on Thursday, Owino revealed that the party officially acquired its new name on September 10, 2026. This followed approval from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. The name change was from Muungano Party to The Mwananchi Party. Owino provided an official letter from the ORPP detailing the process.
According to Owino, principals of the Linda Mwananchi movement visited the ORPP on August 4. The purpose was to seek clarification on the Linda Mwananchi name before the name change was formally completed. The clarification comes amid questions surrounding the Linda Mwananchi name and the formation of The Mwananchi Party. Owino released the information to provide clarity on the matter. The lawmaker shared an official letter from the ORPP.
The letter, dated September 10 and signed by Registrar of Political Parties and CEO J.C. Lorionokou, confirmed the change of name. The change took effect under Section 20(5) of the Political Parties Act. The Registrar stated that no representations had been received from members of the public over the proposed name change. This was after its publication through Gazette Notice No. 13935.
However, Lawrence Nzunga had lodged an objection on August 30 against the proposed change. Nzunga later withdrew the objection on September 8. He confirmed that his concerns had been addressed. The Registrar then notified the party that the change of name had taken effect. Owino shared the document to allow members of the public to follow the official chronology of the name change.
The Mwananchi Party principals had visited the ORPP on August 4. They sought clarification on the status of the Linda Mwananchi name and the registration process. At that point, the matter was still being addressed through the ORPP. The official change to The Mwananchi Party was subsequently completed on September 10.
The clarification comes amid an ongoing debate over The Mwananchi Party. The debate is related to the political vehicle associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement. This is ahead of the 2027 General Election. Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka had earlier said delays in registering Linda Mwananchi had pushed members to consider alternative political parties.
Onyonka suggested that such parties could later be brought together under one political vehicle. This would happen once the movement settles on its preferred structure. The Mwananchi Party urged Kenyans to consider the official record and the documented chronology.
Key points
- The Mwananchi Party name change was approved by the ORPP on September 10, 2026.
- The name change process involved a visit by Linda Mwananchi movement principals to the ORPP on August 4.
- An objection to the name change was lodged by Lawrence Nzunga but later withdrawn on September 8.
