Edwin Sifuna’s Advocate Responds to Fresh Hurdles Facing TEP, LMM

TEP's legal team said no formal communication from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties had been received regarding any objection to the name changeThe ORPP gazetted TEP's notice to change its name to Linda Mwananchi Movement on October 16, 2026, opening a seven-day window for public objectionsA rival party, LINDA, filed a formal submission on October 18 opposing the name change, citing two unresolved cases before the Political Parties Dispute TribunalSearch option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner 😉

The Equitable Party's legal team has moved to calm anxieties over the proposed rebranding of the outfit to Linda Mwananchi Movement, insisting the process remains on track despite reports of emerging obstacles.

Edwin Sifuna during the launch of TEP in Nairobi. Photo: TEP Source: Facebook

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Advocate Oliver Makhanu, who leads the party's legal team, said as of the time of his statement, no formal communication from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) had been received regarding any objection to the name change process.

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Makhanu noted that the ORPP published a gazette notice on October 16, 2026, under Gazette Notice No. 16427, formally announcing The Equitable Party's intention to change its name from The Equitable Party (TEP) to Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM).

The notice, signed by Registrar of Political Parties J. C. Lorionokou, gave members of the public seven days to file written submissions with the registrar if they opposed the change.

He added that the legal team would communicate with members and supporters immediately upon receiving any formal objection, and would advise on the appropriate course of action at that point.

Two days after the gazette notice was published, on October 18, LINDA founder and treasurer Ndanu submitted a formal objection to the registrar, contesting the proposed name change.

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In her submission, Ndanu argued that adopting the name "Linda Mwananchi Movement" should not be permitted while two active cases remain unresolved before the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT). The cases in question, identified as PPDTC/E020/2026 and PPDTA/E001/2026, are both pending hearing and determination.

LINDA's position is that allowing the name change to proceed before those cases are concluded would undermine the course of justice.

Masolo Mabonga (HOD Politics and Current Affairs) Masolo Mabonga is the HOD of the Political and Current Affairs desk at TUKO with over seven years of experience in digital media. He graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication and Media Technology from Maseno University in 2017 and has previously worked with KNA and Opera News. He is a recipient of Elevate scholarship (2022) and is currently pursuing a law degree at MKU. Masolo has also received training from the Google News Initiative on Advanced Digital Reporting, Fighting Misinformation, and Experimenting with New Formats (2024). Email: masolo.mabonga@tuko.co.ke