It’s a win for Linda Mwananchi Movement after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) set aside the Registrar of Political Parties’ decision to decline the reservation of the name and ordered the Registrar to reserve it within seven days.

In its ruling, the Tribunal found that the Registrar’s decision lacked 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 case was filed by Caroli Omondi, Pauline Njoroge and Faith Odhiambo, who identify themselves as founders of the Linda Mwananchi Movement.

They had challenged the Registrar’s refusal to reserve the name Linda Mwananchi Movement and its abbreviation, LLM, and sought orders compelling the Registrar to approve and reserve the name in their favour.

The Tribunal also ruled that the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA), commonly known as Linda Party, was not a fully registered political party and therefore lacked the legal capacity to sue, be sued or participate in proceedings in its own name.

Consequently, the Tribunal struck out all pleadings filed by LINDA as an interested party.

While granting the applicants’ request to overturn the Registrar’s decision and directing the reservation of the name within seven days, the Tribunal declined to grant all the other prayers sought by the applicants.