The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has formally approved the reservation of the Linda Mwananchi Movement name, following a judgment by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. This development clears a significant hurdle for the political outfit associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. The approval, granted on October 1, 2026, is valid for a maximum period of 90 days, giving the promoters a statutory window to proceed with the next stages of establishing the proposed political party.
The approval comes after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal overturned the Registrar's earlier decision to decline the reservation request. The dispute arose after the Registrar rejected an application by Suba South MP Michael Caroli Omondi, Pauline Njoroge, and former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo, who identified themselves as promoters of the proposed movement. The applicants had challenged the Registrar's decision before the PPDT, which found that the decision was without legal justification.
The Tribunal's September 30, 2026 judgment directed the Registrar to reserve the name and abbreviation LMM within seven days. According to the Tribunal, the refusal had unjustifiably limited the applicants' right to form or participate in forming a political party. The case was heard by a five-member panel chaired by Innocent Muganda, with the dispute also involving the Liberty National Democratic Alliance as an interested party.
A central issue in the dispute was the existence of another political outfit that had previously reserved the name LINDA. The Tribunal found that the reservation made by the Liberty National Democratic Alliance on November 15, 2024, was subject to the statutory 90-day reservation period. Since no formal application for provisional registration had been filed within that period, the Tribunal held that the reservation had lapsed and could no longer be relied upon to prevent another applicant from seeking reservation of the name.
The ruling also addressed the legal status of the LINDA outfit in the proceedings. The Tribunal found that it had not attained provisional or full registration and therefore struck out pleadings filed on its behalf in the case. Furthermore, the Tribunal rejected the Registrar's reliance on similarity between the competing names as sufficient justification for refusing the Linda Mwananchi application.
The 90-day reservation by ORPP creates the statutory window for the promoters to proceed with the formal processes required for establishment and registration of the political party. This development comes amid another claim over the name, as Charles Wanyonyi has claimed that he submitted an application on February 24, 2026, to reserve the name Linda Mwananchi Party of Kenya. Wanyonyi's lawyers argue that his application preceded the subsequent applicants and should be given priority.
The approval of the Linda Mwananchi Movement name is a significant milestone for the proposed political party. However, the claim by Charles Wanyonyi may pose a challenge to the promoters associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. The Registrar's approval and the Tribunal's judgment have paved the way for the next stages of establishing the political party, but the issue of priority and potential disputes over the name may require further resolution.
Key points
- The Registrar of Political Parties has approved the reservation of the Linda Mwananchi Movement name for 90 days.
- The approval follows a judgment by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, which overturned the Registrar's earlier decision to decline the reservation request.
- Another claim over the name has emerged, with Charles Wanyonyi asserting that he submitted an earlier application for the name Linda Mwananchi Party of Kenya.
