Win for Sifuna as ORPP Approves Linda Mwananchi Movement
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has scored a victory after the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) approved the reservation of the name Linda Mwananchi Movement.
Registrar of Political Parties Lorionokou confirmed the approval in a letter dated October 1, 2026, following an application to reserve the name.
The Registrar said the approval was made pursuant to a recent decision by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) and Section 8 of the Political Parties Act.
“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,” Lorionokou said.
The Registrar added that the reservation of the name would remain valid for a maximum of 90 days from the date of the letter.
The approval follows a PPDT decision that overturned the Registrar’s earlier refusal to reserve the name Linda Mwananchi Movement.
The Tribunal ordered the Registrar to reserve the name within seven days, finding that the decision to reject the application had no 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 ruled.
The dispute involved Michael Caroli Omondi, Pauline Njoroge and Faith Odhiambo, who identified themselves as founders of the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
The applicants had challenged the Registrar’s refusal to reserve the name Linda Mwananchi Movement and its proposed abbreviation, LMM, and sought an order compelling the Registrar to approve and reserve the name in their favour.
The Tribunal also considered the participation of Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA), commonly known as Linda Party, in the proceedings.
It ruled that LINDA was not a fully registered political party and therefore lacked the legal capacity to sue, be sued or participate in the proceedings in its own name.
The Tribunal consequently struck out pleadings filed by LINDA as an interested party, stating that the organisation lacked the requisite legal capacity to participate in the case.
While the Tribunal granted the applicants’ request to overturn the Registrar’s decision and directed the reservation of the name within seven days, it declined to grant the other prayers sought by the applicants.
