The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) has ruled in favor of the founders of the Linda Mwananchi group, overturning the Registrar of Political Parties' refusal to reserve the group's name and directing the Registrar to complete the reservation within seven days. The Tribunal found that the Registrar's decision lacked any legal basis and constituted a violation of the applicants' right to form or participate in the formation of a political party.
The case was brought by Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, Pauline Njoroge, and Faith Odhiambo, who presented themselves as the movement's founders. They had challenged the Registrar's refusal to approve the name Linda Mwananchi Movement and its abbreviation, LLM, asking the Tribunal to compel the Registrar to act in their favour.
The Tribunal also addressed the involvement of Liberty National Democratic Alliance, commonly known as Linda Party, which had sought to participate in the proceedings. It found that Linda Party was not a fully registered political party and therefore lacked legal standing to sue, be sued, or engage in proceedings in its own name. All pleadings filed by the group as an interested party were struck out.
The Linda Mwananchi Movement is associated with a group of self-described ODM rebels who have publicly broken with the party's current leadership over its alignment with President William Ruto's broad-based government. The group has been actively recruiting ODM members, positioning itself as an alternative political vehicle ahead of the 2027 general election.
Prior to the ruling, Caroli, who serves as the movement's spokesperson, publicly accused Ruto of directing the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) to block the group's registration. Speaking in a Linda Mwananchi rally, he claimed that the ORPP under John Lorionokou had acted on instructions from the president to sabotage the process.
The movement has identified ousted ODM secretary general and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna as its preferred presidential candidate for 2027. Sifuna's departure from ODM followed his removal as secretary general earlier this year. Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, a Linda Mwananchi ally, separately declared that Sifuna would contest on a United Democratic Party (UDP) ticket.
Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said the naming disputes would not stall the Linda Mwananchi project, adding that Sifuna is expected to launch his new party within the next two weeks. Recent polls have shown Sifuna polling at 15% individually, ahead of Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka's 13%, with a Kalonzo-Sifuna ticket at 23% national support.
Key points
- The PPDT's ruling allows the Linda Mwananchi group to proceed with its registration and potentially participate in the 2027 general election.
- Edwin Sifuna is the preferred presidential candidate for the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
- The group's registration was blocked by the ORPP, allegedly on instructions from President William Ruto.
