TAITA TAVETA, Kenya- The Linda Mwananchi movement has claimed that its efforts to register as a political party have been frustrated, accusing the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) of delaying approval of its application ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a rally in Taita Taveta County on Saturday, the movement’s spokesperson and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi alleged that the registrar’s office had declined to approve the group’s proposed name, Linda Mwananchi Party.
Omondi further accused President William Ruto of influencing the registration process, although he did not provide evidence to support the allegation.
“I want to tell President William Ruto to stop telling the Registrar of Political Parties not to approve the registration of Linda Mwananchi Party,” Omondi said.
“I want to tell the Registrar of Political Parties that you have no right under Section 8 of the Political Parties Act to deny us the right to use the name Linda Mwananchi.”
His claims had not been independently verified, and neither the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties nor State House had publicly responded to the allegations by the time of publication.
Threat to petition registrar
Omondi warned that members of the movement would visit the registrar’s offices to press for approval of the proposed party name.
Drawing parallels with the late opposition struggles led by Raila Odinga, he said the movement would resist what it viewed as political intimidation.
“We are coming to your office this week, and if you do not approve that name, Raila Odinga taught us what to do, and we will do it. We will guard our name. You will not intimidate us. The late Daniel Moi tried but he did not succeed. We will not be beaten, we will not be cowed, we will not be threatened,” he said.
Breakaway faction from ODM
Linda Mwananchi is largely made up of leaders who have broken ranks with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) over the party’s growing cooperation with President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under the broad-based government arrangement.
The faction has positioned itself as an alternative political movement ahead of the 2027 General Election and has been urging ODM supporters dissatisfied with the party’s current direction to join it.
Among those associated with the movement are leaders aligned with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who has consistently argued that ODM should maintain its independence and continue playing its constitutional oversight role despite its cooperation with the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The group has also floated the possibility of backing Senator Sifuna as its presidential candidate should it secure registration as a political party.
Legal framework for registration
The registration of political parties in Kenya is governed by the Political Parties Act, 2011, which sets out the procedures and conditions under which political associations may be provisionally and fully registered.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties is mandated to assess applications against statutory requirements, including ensuring that a proposed party name or symbol does not closely resemble that of an existing registered political party or otherwise contravene the law.
Should an application be rejected, the law provides mechanisms for applicants to seek a review or challenge the decision through the appropriate legal channels.