Registrar of Political Parties Reserves Linda Mwananchi name

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has approved the reservation of the name Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) as a political party name for a period of up to 90 days.

In an official letter dated October 1, 2026, Registrar of Political Parties/CEO J C Lorionokou notified the legal counsel for the applicants, Bansbury Associates Advocates LLP, of the approval.

The decision follows a judgment delivered by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.

On Wednesday, the tribunal declared the decision by the Registrar of Political Parties to reject the reservation of the name Linda Mwananchi as unlawful and unconstitutional.

In a virtual ruling on Wednesday, September 30, the tribunal directed the ORPP to reconsider its decision, in a ruling that comes as a relief to the Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna-led movement.

The decision follows a dispute over the reservation of the name, with the Registrar having declined the application to reserve Linda Mwananchi.

ORPP had blocked the Sifuna-led movement from reserving the name LINDA after it found that another party with the initials was already registered.

According to the tribunal, ORPP lacked legal justification and breached provisions of the Political Parties Act when it blocked the reservation and registration of the party.

The tribunal has therefore asked the political parties registrar to reconsider its decision and release a new decision on the matter within seven days.