The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties in Kenya has reserved the name Linda Mwananchi Movement for 90 days, following a ruling by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. This development allows the group, linked to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, to advance its registration plans. The Tribunal's decision on September 30 set aside the Registrar's earlier refusal to reserve the name and directed the office to reconsider the application within seven days.
The reservation of the Linda Mwananchi Movement name does not mean the party is fully registered. In Kenya, a name reservation lasts for a maximum of 90 days, during which the applicants can proceed with the next stage, including applying for provisional registration. To achieve provisional registration, the applicants must submit documents such as the proposed party constitution, minutes of the first meeting of founding members, and a signed Political Parties Code of Conduct.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties informed the applicants' lawyers, Bansbury Associates Advocates LLP, of the name reservation in a letter dated October 1. Registrar J.C. Lorionokou's office also provided a checklist for provisional registration, which includes a KSh100,000 registration fee. Once provisionally registered, the proposed party must build structures required for full registration, including recruiting at least 1,000 registered voters in each of more than half of Kenya's counties.
To achieve full registration, a provisionally registered party must apply within 180 days of provisional registration. The party must also establish at least 24 county offices, a membership database, and a governing body that meets constitutional and diversity requirements. The development comes as political parties face important electoral compliance deadlines ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Edwin Sifuna reacted to the decision with the word "Wametii", a Kiswahili expression meaning that the authorities had finally yielded or given in. However, the latest development comes as Linda Mwananchi's original members have increasingly taken different political paths. Babu Owino has launched the Mwananchi Party, Caleb Amisi has established the People's Renaissance Movement, while Siaya Governor James Orengo is preparing to unveil his own political party.
Sifuna has previously been linked to the United Democratic Party (UDP) as his political vehicle for the 2027 presidential bid. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has set October 15 as the deadline for parties to submit details of authorised officials and specimen signatures. Election and nomination rules are also due between September 28 and October 16.
The Linda Mwananchi Movement's progress comes amid a busy period for Kenyan politics. With the 2027 General Election approaching, political parties must comply with various regulations and deadlines. The Registrar's office and the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal will continue to play a crucial role in shaping the country's political landscape.
Key points
- The Linda Mwananchi Movement name has been reserved for 90 days, allowing the group to advance its registration plans.
- The party must still complete the provisional and full registration processes to become a fully registered political party.
- The development comes as political parties face important electoral compliance deadlines ahead of the 2027 General Election.
