The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has temporarily barred the Registrar of Political Parties from considering, processing, reserving or registering the name ‘Linda Mwananchi’ or any similar variation for another person or entity, pending the hearing and determination of an appeal.
The order was issued after parties to the dispute entered into a consent agreement, which was subsequently adopted by the Tribunal. Under the agreement, the reservation and registration processes for the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) and the Mwananchi Party will continue pending determination of the appeal.
The restriction does not apply to LINDA or the Mwananchi Party, meaning the two entities can proceed with processes already underway with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).
The dispute centres on the Linda Mwananchi brand associated with a political movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition politicians ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Tribunal’s latest orders effectively prevent the creation or registration of another political party using “Linda Mwananchi” or a substantially similar name while the legal battle continues.
This follows a case that was was filed by Pauline Njoki Njoroge, former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo and Suba South MP Michael Caroli Omondi, who challenged the Registrar’s refusal to reserve the name Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM).
The applicants say they applied to reserve the name on June 4, 2026, but their application was initially rejected on grounds including public interest. They later said the Registrar agreed to reconsider the decision following a meeting on August 4, only for that position to be reversed three days later.
According to the applicants, the reversal was linked to the existence of the Liberty National Democratic Alliance, which uses the acronym LINDA.
The applicants argued that the Registrar’s position was contradictory and that denying them the name threatened their political rights under Article 38 of the Constitution, which guarantees citizens the right to form, join and participate in political parties.
The Tribunal has scheduled the hearing of the appeal for September 14, 2026, at 2:30pm.
