The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has begun the formal process of renaming The Equitable Party (TEP), the outfit led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, to the Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM), moving the senator's political vehicle a step closer to the identity it has fought for ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a letter dated 13 October 2026, Registrar of Political Parties John Lorionokou confirmed that his office had reviewed the documents submitted by the party and had initiated gazettement of the proposed name change under Section 20(1)(d) of the Political Parties Act, according to Kenyans.co.ke and The Eastleigh Voice. The provision covers changes to a party's name, symbol, colours and slogan.

What the party filed

The Registrar's letter acknowledged a submission dated 8 October from TEP Secretary General Emmanuel Soreh. The Eastleigh Voice reported that the filing contained a notice of a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on 8 October, a signed list of those who attended, the committee's resolution to adopt the Linda Mwananchi Movement name, and statutory Form PP.10. The party also supplied proof that the proposed change had been advertised in the Daily Nation on 10 October and posted on its official website.

Not yet a done deal

The step falls short of final approval. Under the Registrar's directions, the party must wait 14 days from the date of the newspaper advertisement and then inform the ORPP of any representations received from the public, along with how they were handled, in line with Section 20(4) of the Act. Radio47 also reported that the office had asked the party to report public submissions once the 14-day period lapses.

Some reports described the development as an outright approval of the name change, but the Registrar's letter, as quoted by Kenyans.co.ke, makes clear that the matter remains subject to the public-notice process.

A long fight over a name

The move is the latest chapter in a months-long tussle over the Linda Mwananchi brand. On 7 August, the Registrar declined to reserve the name, a decision later set aside by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, which directed the office to act. Citizen Digital reported that the Registrar subsequently approved the reservation of the name in a letter dated 1 October, valid for up to 90 days, although a reservation alone does not create a registered party.

Senator Sifuna formally unveiled TEP as his political home at a ceremony in Nairobi on 4 October, telling supporters that the movement would seek to rebrand the party as Linda Mwananchi. The Daily Nation reported that he also said the party would keep its current name if further obstacles were placed in the way of the rebranding. The paper noted that the path is not entirely clear, with Charles Wanyonyi asking the Registrar to prioritise his own earlier application to reserve the name "Linda Mwananchi Party of Kenya".

The development comes as President William Ruto has stepped up his political attacks on Senator Sifuna and his new party.

Photo: Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna (centre) during the unveiling of The Equitable Party in Nairobi on 4 October 2026. (Linda Mwananchi via The Eastleigh Voice)