Why the fate of Linda Mwananchi is in Registrar’s hands

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s camp on Tuesday pushed its resolve to register Linda Mwananchi as a political party for his 2027 presidential bid.

The team confronted the Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou in a closed-door meeting, questioning why he rejected their attempts to reserve the name for registration ahead of next year’s polls.

When the politicians emerged from the meeting, they announced that Mr Lorionokou agreed to review the office’s earlier decision that rejected the name for allegedly contravening the Political Parties Act. The registrar did not respond to our queries about the meeting and its resolutions.

An initial attempt by another Kenyan to reserve the name was rejected by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) because the proposed name closely resembles other slogans and raises issues of public interest.

“Reference is made to your online application for reservation of the following name: Linda Mwananchi Party of Kenya (LMPK). Your application has been considered by law and the name has been rejected as it closely resembles already reserved slogans – Linda Mkenya, Boresha Kenya – and public interest, hence against Section 8 of the Political Parties Act Cap 7D,” ORPP said in an official communication.

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