NAIROBI, Kenya — Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has released a letter from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) detailing how Muungano Party was renamed The Mwananchi Party, amid an ongoing debate over the political vehicle associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement.
Owino shared the letter on Thursday, September 24, 2026, saying it was intended to clarify questions surrounding the Linda Mwananchi name and the formation of The Mwananchi Party.
“There has been discussion around the Linda Mwananchi name and the formation of The Mwananchi Party,” Owino said.
“For clarity, here is the official letter from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) on the change of name,” he added.
The ORPP letter confirms that the party’s name change took effect on September 10, 2026, after a public notice, an objection and the subsequent withdrawal of that objection.
ORPP Confirms Muungano-to-Mwananchi Change
The letter, dated September 10, 2026, and referenced RPP/FRP/050 Vol IV (25), was addressed to the Secretary General of The Mwananchi Party.
The Registrar referred to an earlier letter dated August 25 confirming that no representations had been received from members of the public following the publication of Gazette Notice No. 13935 on August 28 concerning the proposed name change.
The proposed change was from Muungano Party (MP) to The Mwananchi Party (TMP).
The Registrar’s letter then records an objection filed by Lawrence Nzunga on August 30 against the proposed change.
Nzunga subsequently withdrew the objection through a letter dated September 8, 2026.
According to the Registrar, the withdrawal followed confirmation from Nzunga that his reservations had been addressed.
“In light of the foregoing, the Registrar hereby notifies the party that the change of name has taken effect, pursuant to Section 20(5) of the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D,” the letter states.
Owino Says Process Began in August
Owino said principals associated with Linda Mwananchi had gone to the ORPP on August 4, 2026, to seek clarification on the availability of the Linda Mwananchi name.
He said the subsequent administrative process culminated in the September 10 approval recorded in the Registrar’s letter.
“We are sharing the letter so that everyone can see the official chronology of the name change,” he said.
The chronology provides an official record of the name-change process, including the proposed change, public notice, objection, withdrawal and final confirmation by the Registrar.
Mwananchi Party Was Not Newly Registered
The ORPP correspondence establishes that the Mwananchi Party was not created as a newly registered party under that name.
Instead, the document expressly records a change of name from the existing Muungano Party to The Mwananchi Party.
The distinction is important because political leaders associated with Linda Mwananchi have been discussing which registered party or coalition arrangement should serve as their political vehicle for the 2027 General Election.
Recent reporting has also documented differences among leaders over whether The Mwananchi Party or the Ukombozi People’s Party should be used by different members of the movement.
Babu Maintains Support for Sifuna
Owino has previously said that his possession of a separate political party does not prevent him from supporting Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s presidential ambitions.
He has proposed a coalition arrangement in which The Mwananchi Party and Ukombozi People’s Party could work together under the broader Linda Mwananchi movement.
Owino has also maintained that his party existed before the Linda Mwananchi movement was formed.
Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka separately said members of the Linda Mwananchi team were aware of the party and had been involved in discussions about the political vehicle to be used by the movement.
Party Steps Up Membership Drive
The clarification comes as The Mwananchi Party continues to recruit members ahead of the 2027 election.
Owino recently instructed Kenyans seeking to join the party to use the ORPP’s *509# USSD platform, with party code 050 listed for The Mwananchi Party.
The membership drive has added momentum to efforts to establish the party’s grassroots structures as political formations prepare for the next General Election.
