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Why the fate of Linda Mwananchi is in Registrar’s hands
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna second (left), Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya (third left), Embakasi East MP Babu Owino (left), and other leaders during a Linda Mwananchi rally at Sibanga in Transn Nzoia County on July 25, 2026.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s camp on Tuesday pushed its resolve to register Linda Mwananchi as a political party for his 2027 presidential bid.
The team confronted the Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou in a closed-door meeting, questioning why he rejected their attempts to reserve the name for registration ahead of next year’s polls.
When the politicians emerged from the meeting, they announced that Mr Lorionokou agreed to review the office’s earlier decision that rejected the name for allegedly contravening the Political Parties Act. The registrar did not respond to our queries about the meeting and its resolutions.
An initial attempt by another Kenyan to reserve the name was rejected by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) because the proposed name closely resembles other slogans and raises issues of public interest.
“Reference is made to your online application for reservation of the following name: Linda Mwananchi Party of Kenya (LMPK). Your application has been considered by law and the name has been rejected as it closely resembles already reserved slogans – Linda Mkenya, Boresha Kenya – and public interest, hence against Section 8 of the Political Parties Act Cap 7D,” ORPP said in an official communication.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna addresses supporters of Linda Mwananchi during a political rally in Trans Nzoia County on July 25, 2026.
Linda Mwananchi spokesperson Caroli Omondi told the press that Mr Lorionokou promised to review his earlier decision by the end of the week.
“The registrar told us he will review his decision and give us feedback at the end of the week,” Omondi said.
The meeting was attended by Mr Sifuna, Mr Omondi, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka.
Others were Mavoko MP Patrick Makau, Jack Wamboka (Bumula), Clive Gisairo (Kitutu Masaba) and former Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Faith Odhiambo.
Mr Osotsi told the Nation that the meeting was necessitated by the ORPP’s decision to reject the faction’s decision to reserve the name. The Vihiga senator said they have been under pressure from their supporters to register a party after some of them were kicked out of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership positions.
“We went to the registrar because we had asked our lawyers to register the name.” said Mr Osotsi.
He explained that when Mr Charles Wanyonyi tried to register the name, they wrote to ORPP to put a caveat and stop any attempts to enlist by individuals who are not part of the movement.
“Our lawyers recently wrote to the office to reserve the name, but they were told it cannot be registered because of public interest. We told the registrar that we don’t expect any monkey games and that he will make decisions without being influenced by external forces,” he said.
In the initial attempt to register the name by Mr Wanyonyi, the faction protested to the ORPP demanding the rejection of the application and claiming ownership of the name. The objection was filed by Henia Anzala and Associates.
Linda Mwananchi Movement leaders (from left) Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Siaya Governor James Orengo, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata address a public rally at Kivulini Grounds in Thika, Kiambu County, on June 14, 2026.
In their letter, the movement said that over the past months, they have organised and headlined rallies across the country under the banner of ‘Linda Mwananchi’.
They argued that the phrase has become publicly associated with their political activism and warned that registering it as a party without their involvement risks misleading the public and creating confusion about the movement’s ownership and direction.
The objection was triggered by an application by Mr Wanyonyi who lodged an application with the ORPP to reserve and register the name as a political party.
What began as a simple sloganeering to counter ODM leader Oburu Oginga’s Linda Ground slogan has since gradually acquired attributes of a movement – complete with coordinated messaging and a structured network of organisers.
Its proponents describe it as a civic crusade to reclaim accountability in public service.
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