Linda Mwananchi sets tough attendance rules ahead of Friday's NDC

The Linda Mwananchi Movement has imposed strict attendance requirements for its inaugural National Delegates Conference (NDC), restricting participation to designated delegates registered under The Equitable Party (TEP).

In a communication to supporters, the movement said the Friday, November 13, meeting would bring together delegates allocated to counties according to their registered membership.

It cautioned that the allocations must be strictly observed, ruling out participation by members who do not qualify under the prescribed criteria.

"Attendance at the NDC on 13 November 2026 is restricted to designated delegates drawn from TEP members who were registered by the date the NDC notice was published," the communication stated.

The movement said the NDC is a statutory meeting that will be held to fulfil the legal requirements of the party's establishment.

It said each county has been assigned a specific number of delegates based on its registered membership, urging supporters to cooperate with the arrangements.

The meeting is expected to approve TEP's proposed name change and ratify other decisions necessary to formalise its transition into the Linda Mwananchi Movement.

"We ask for your understanding and cooperation as we undertake this important process to approve the party's name change and ratify other decisions necessary to formalise our transition to the Linda Mwananchi Movement," the notice reads.

The communication comes hours after a legal challenge was filed Political Parties Disputes Tribunal seeking to suspend the meeting.

Emmanuel Wellingtone Khamala petitioned the Tribunal on Wednesday challenging the manner in which the party's leadership and decision-making structures were constituted.

Khamala, who identifies himself as a registered TEP member, wants the NDC halted pending the hearing and determination of his complaint.

He argues that members were excluded from major party decisions, leadership structures were established without elections and the delegates expected to attend the NDC did not emerge from duly elected party structures.

The complaint names TEP's National Executive Committee and National Elections Board, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and the Political Parties Liaison Committee as respondents.

Sifuna, the proposed leader of the movement, is listed as an interested party.

TEP was launched at Nairobi's Serena Hotel on October 4, with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna unveiled as its party leader.

The movement's latest communication confirming the November 13 conference indicates that preparations are continuing despite the pending legal challenge.