Boost for Sifuna team as Registrar approves Linda Mwananchi Movement name after Tribunal order

In a letter dated Thursday, October 1, Registrar John Lorionkou revealed that the decision followed the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal's (PPDT) ruling that ordered the Registrar to reserve the name within seven days.

The approved name reservation is valid for 90 days, meaning that the faction must complete the full provisional and formal political party registration process within this window ahead of the 2027 elections.

"Pursuant to the judgment in PPDTA/E001/2026 Michael Caroli Omondi & Another vs Registrar of Political Parties and Section 8 of the PPA, your application for the name Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) has been approved," the letter read in part.

"The reservation of the name shall be for a period of not more than 90 days from the date of this letter."

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, seen as the party's flag-bearer, shared the letter with a witty caption, "wametii."

Sifuna, who has been fronted as the party's flag-bearer in the lead-up to the 2027 General Election, is expected to make his official pronouncement in the coming days.

In its orders, the Tribunal found that the Registrar’s decision to decline the reservation of the name was without legal justification and amounted to a denial of the applicants’ right to form or participate in the formation of a political party.

“The decision by the Registrar declining to reserve the name Linda Mwananchi is hereby set aside,” the Tribunal ordered.

The Tribunal also found that Linda Mwananchi was distinct from the rival Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) and that LINDA's prior reservation had already lapsed by operation of law.

Amidst the row, Embakasi East Member of Parliament (MP) Babu Owino was also caught in the crossfire for the registration of The Mwananchi Party (TMP), whose timeline and name were questioned by critics relative to the Linda Mwananchi movement.

Babu Owino clarified that he began pursuing his own political platform after deciding to run for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat on February 10, 2025.

Babu noted that the outfit predated the formation of the Linda Mwananchi Movement faction.