NAIROBI, Kenya — Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou has denied claims that his office deliberately blocked the registration of the Linda Mwananchi political party, saying the dispute is before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.
Speaking during an interview with Citizen TV on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Cox said the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) was awaiting the court’s decision after his earlier determination was challenged.
“The issue is in court, and we are awaiting the court’s decision, because when I gave my verdict, Kenyans were not pleased with the decision and they went to court,” Cox said.
Registrar explains party registration requirements
Cox said registering a political party involves meeting a number of statutory requirements, including establishing offices and securing the required membership.
He said a political party is required to have 25 offices — one headquarters and 24 county offices — with the offices painted in the party’s approved colours.
He also said a proposed party must have at least 1,000 members as part of the registration requirements.
The Registrar’s explanation comes as the Linda Mwananchi movement seeks to formalise its political structure ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Linda Mwananchi registration dispute
The dispute began after the ORPP declined to reserve the name Linda Mwananchi for the proposed political party.
The Linda Mwananchi team subsequently challenged the decision before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.
The Tribunal certified the matter as urgent and directed the Registrar to respond to the case after promoters of the movement challenged the refusal to reserve the name.
The applicants argued that the Registrar’s decision threatened their ability to formalise a political platform that has already gained national visibility through rallies and grassroots mobilisation.
Why Cox rejected the name
Cox has previously cited legal and public-interest concerns in rejecting the proposed name.
In a letter to applicants, he said the name Linda Mwananchi Party of Kenya closely resembled the already reserved slogan “Linda Mkenya, Boresha Kenya” and therefore fell foul of Section 8 of the Political Parties Act.
The dispute later became more complicated after the emergence of the Liberty National Democratic Alliance, which uses the acronym LINDA.
The party has asserted its claim to the LINDA identity, saying its registration process began in November 2024 and that it has a nationwide membership base.
LINDA party asserts ownership
Phanesio Thuku, the party leader of Liberty National Democratic Alliance, said the organisation was the legitimate LINDA party.
“We are the legitimate LINDA party founding members recognized by the law of the land and recognized by the office of the registrar of political parties,” Thuku said.
The competing claims have created a political and legal contest over the LINDA name and identity ahead of the 2027 elections.
Linda Mwananchi leaders, meanwhile, have maintained that they will pursue legal avenues to protect the movement’s interests.
Article 38 and political parties
Cox also sought to clarify that the Constitution does not place a fixed limit on the number of political parties that can operate in Kenya.
He said Article 38 guarantees citizens the right to participate in political activities and noted that Kenya currently has 99 fully registered political parties, alongside dozens of parties at the provisional registration stage.
The Registrar’s comments come as political parties and emerging movements race to comply with electoral requirements ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Court decision could shape Linda Mwananchi’s future
The outcome of the ongoing legal dispute will determine whether the Sifuna-aligned movement can formalise its preferred identity as it continues building its national political campaign.
The movement has also considered alternative options amid the registration standoff, while its leaders continue to hold rallies across the country. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna previously hinted that his team could unveil another political vehicle if the Linda Mwananchi registration process remained unresolved.
For now, Cox says the ORPP will await the court’s determination before taking further action on the disputed registration.
