NAIROBI, Kenya – Narc Kenya, led by veteran politician Martha Karua, has officially rebranded to the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) in a move to appeal to younger voters ahead of Kenya’s 2027 elections.
The party’s new identity was formalized on Friday when the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, handed over the legal certification to Karua at the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) in Lion Place, Nairobi.
Nderitu commended the party for following due process under the Political Parties Act, 2011.
She also urged PLP to promote nationalism and uphold political rights as it embarks on its new phase.
The rebranding includes a new party symbol, colors, and slogan.
The party has abandoned its previous red and white colors in favor of lilac, white, and purple, with a purple rose replacing the original rose flower symbol.
The new slogan, “Unite” and “Liberate,” replaces the former “One Kenya, One Nation, One People.”
Karua, a long-time advocate for democratic reforms, said the transformation reflects a generational shift in the party’s leadership and vision.
“We want a party that resonates with the aspirations of young people. The name change is part of aligning with their energy, ideas, and demand for real change,” she said.
The move comes as Gen Z voters continue to shape Kenya’s political discourse, with many young people pushing for economic and governance reforms.
The Kenya National Council for Population and Development reports that 75.1% of Kenya’s population is under 35, making youth engagement a key battleground for 2027.
The PLP rebrand also coincides with growing political realignments.
Karua has recently hinted at collaborating with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is set to launch his own political party this month.
Both leaders have called on Gen Z to register as voters and actively participate in shaping the country’s leadership.
Karua has also revealed that PLP intends to push for radical constitutional changes, including introducing term limits for party leadership.
“The party delegates have authorized us to amend our constitution. We want to be the first party in Kenya to have term limits for our top leadership,” Karua announced in November. “This means that in the next party elections, I will not be eligible to contest.”
This stance challenges the long-standing tradition in Kenyan politics, where party leaders often hold on to power indefinitely.
PLP, formerly known as Narc Kenya (National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya), has a long history in Kenya’s political landscape.
It was formed in 2005 after the defeat of a government-backed draft constitution, emerging from the original Narc coalition that brought Mwai Kibaki to power in 2002.
Karua, a former Justice Minister, took charge of the party in 2009 after resigning from Kibaki’s government.
She later ran for president in 2013 under the Narc Kenya ticket, cementing her reputation as a fierce advocate for democracy and governance reforms.
