A group of opposition politicians, among them Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo, and Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino, have formally opposed the proposed registration of a political outfit dubbed the Linda Mwananchi Party.
The leaders, together with seven other politicians aligned to their political movement, submitted a written objection to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties after learning that an individual identified as Charles Wanyonyi had lodged an application seeking to reserve and register the name “Linda Mwananchi” as a political party.In their submission, the politicians clarified that the proposed party has no affiliation, endorsement, or connection with them or their broader political activities.
They stressed that “Linda Mwananchi” has been widely used as a civic and political rallying call in their engagements with the public and warned that its formal registration by a private individual could create confusion among supporters and members of the public.The group argued that allowing the registration to proceed without scrutiny could mislead Kenyans into believing that the new entity is linked to their movement, potentially exposing citizens to exploitation.
They expressed concern that individuals might use the name to solicit funds, recruit members, or mobilise under what they termed false pretences.According to the objection, the leaders urged the Registrar to exercise due diligence in reviewing the application, noting that political party registration carries significant legal and financial implications under the Political Parties Act.
They maintained that any attempt to appropriate a name closely associated with an existing political formation or slogan should be carefully examined to protect public interest.The politicians further stated that their action is aimed at safeguarding their supporters and preventing possible fraudulent activities that could arise if the party is registered and begins operations under a name that the public may associate with them.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties is now expected to consider both the initial application and the formal objection before making a determination. The decision will be guided by existing legal frameworks governing political party registration, including checks on name similarity, potential public confusion, and compliance with statutory requirements.
The development signals an emerging dispute over political branding and mobilisation efforts, with the final ruling likely to determine whether the “Linda Mwananchi” name can proceed as an officially recognised political party.
