Linda Mwananchi Rebrand: Registrar Asked to Verify TEP Delegates’ Approval

Edwin Sifuna’s plan to rebrand The Equitable Party (TEP) as the Linda Mwananchi Movement has drawn two objections, both questioning whether the process has met the legal and procedural requirements.

Chepalungu MP aspirant Festus Ruto has asked the Registrar of Political Parties to verify whether the proposed name change complies with the law and TEP’s constitution. In written submissions, Ruto said his concern was not the proposed name but whether the required procedures had been followed.

Ruto’s objection centres on the approval process. He noted that TEP’s National Executive Committee met on October 8 and resolved to pursue the name change. Documents reportedly submitted to the registrar included the meeting notice, a signed attendance list, the resolution, Form PP.10 and proof of publication in the Daily Nation on October 10 and on the party’s website.

However, Ruto said that, as of October 20, he had found no public record showing that the party’s National Delegates Conference had met and approved the change.

He clarified that he was not claiming the conference had failed to approve the proposal. Instead, he asked the registrar to verify the matter against the party’s official records.

A second objection was filed on October 18 by the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA), through its founder and treasurer, Ndanu. The party cited two pending cases before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal: PPDTC/E020/2026 and PPDTA/E001/2026.

LINDA argued that proceeding with the rebrand while the cases remain unresolved could be premature and open to legal challenge.

In a letter dated October 13, the Registrar of Political Parties had confirmed that the documents submitted by TEP had been reviewed and that the gazettement process had begun under Section 20(1)(d) of the Political Parties Act. Ruto also referred to Gazette Notice No. 16427 and Section 20 of the Act in his submission.

The dispute comes just weeks after TEP was launched on October 4, with Sifuna unveiled as the party’s leader and presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.

https://www.facebook.com/100067867727102/posts/1492205263051717/?app=fbl

MadowoMedia feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com