Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is in the process of registering Linda Mwananchi as a party for his 2027 presidential bid, his allies have confirmed.

Lawmakers allied to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) breakaway faction also revealed back-up plans should the registration face both legal and political obstacles.

The faction has today scheduled a meeting with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties in its push to enlist the name ahead of 2027, with some of the members revealing that they already reserved the name. It was not immediately known if it has been reserved with some modification.

An initial attempt by another Kenyan to reserve the name was rejected by the registrar. In a formal communication to the applicant, Registrar of Political Parties John Cox Lorionokou told promoter Charles Wanyonyi the proposed name could not be approved because it closely resembles other slogans and raises issues of public interest.

Linda Mwananchi rally: Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, who is in the Linda Mwananchi team, during a rally at Moi’s Bridge in Uasin Gishu County on July 25, 2026.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation

“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 an already reserved slogan — Linda Mkenya, Boresha Kenya — and public interest, hence against Section 8 of the Political Parties Act Cap 7D,” he said.

Read: The price of power: Inside Sifuna’s crowdfunded insurgency stirring 2027 race

Sources in the Linda Mwananchi camp, which has settled on Mr Sifuna as its presidential candidate, also said that they have two alternatives should they fail to register the name.

The issue of the new party came up during Thursday’s meeting between Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka and Linda Mwananchi leaders. Senator Sifuna said at the meeting that Linda Mwananchi was in the process of being registered as a party.

Kisii Senator Richard Onyonka told the Nation that the name has been reserved, and they are expecting the registrar to give them the go-ahead to register it.

“Tomorrow (today) we have a meeting with the Registrar of Parties. We already reserved the name,” Mr Onyonka said.

ODM is now dead

The team has, however, foreseen possible obstacles. Senator Onyonka said: “In Kenya you must have plan ‘B’ and ‘C’. We are preparing to have our own party since ODM is now dead.”

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi said that Linda Mwananchi would be their new party’s name, adding that no one can block them from registering the name.

“It is in the public domain that Linda Mwananchi is ours. No one can stop us from registering it,” Mr Osotsi said.

He said a team of experts has been formed to come up with the new party’s blue print and manifesto in preparations for the polls.

He said Linda Mwananchi faction’s focus, for now, is to have a party, then go around all the 47 counties to popularise it before engaging in coalition building.

DNKsmMwananchi0307(9) — Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna engage supporters at Monarch Hotel in Mosocho, Kisii County, on July 3, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation

The latest development comes as former President Uhuru Kenyatta launched another bid to have the opposition presenting a united front against President William Ruto. Mr Kenyatta is expected to chair a crucial meeting of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Council today.

Wiper leader Mr Musyoka — who was elevated by Mr Kenyatta to lead Azimio following the death of former presidential candidate Raila Odinga's death in October 2025 — has been pushing for a coalition model inspired by the National Rainbow Coalition (Narc) that swept Mwai Kibaki to power in 2002.

Under this new arrangement, parties would retain their identities while rallying behind a common presidential candidate and a shared coalition platform.

In 2002, Raila’s Liberal Democratic Party joined Mr Kibaki’s National Alliance Kenya to form Narc, which fielded candidates in 205 of 210 constituencies and won 125 of them, with 62 per cent of the presidential vote.

Read: Who pairs with who? The Opposition's 2027 ticket dilemma

Mr Onyonka said the Azimio meeting will discuss how to front a single candidate. He said Linda Mwananchi will lobby for the opposition to rally behind Mr Sifuna to face off with Dr Ruto.

Kitutu Chache South MP Anthony Kibagendi said Linda Mwananchi is part of the planned grand coalition. The lawmaker said it is only through a united front that they can beat President Ruto at the ballot.

“The idea is to bring together all the opposition parties because that is the only way we can beat Ruto,” he said.

The meeting is expected to bring together representatives from constituent parties, including Wiper, Jubilee and Kanu. Discussions are also expected to centre on accommodating emerging formations such as Linda Mwananchi movement, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for the Citizens Party and the possible return of Martha Karua's People's Liberation Party (PLP).

Former Chief Justice David Maraga (centre), Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna (right) and other opposition leaders acknowledge greetings from members of the public during a women empowerment program in Mosocho, Kisii County on July 3, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group

The urgency stems from growing concern within opposition ranks that while anti-government leaders continue to hold rallies and issue joint statements, they still lack a formal political structure to challenge a Kenya Kwanza coalition that has been strengthened by the cooperation agreement between United Democratic Alliance and ODM.

Read: Zero sum game: Biggest losers in Sifuna’s rise

Competing interests have in the past turned out to be costly for the opposition. In 1992, efforts to have a united opposition coalition in the multiparty era flopped dramatically, giving then President Daniel Moi another term in office.

The giant Ford that had led the country in the battle to move Kenya from Kanu’s single-party rule could not front a single candidate to face Mr Moi.

The competing interests led to the emergence of splinter parties, with Mr Kenneth Matiba forming Ford-Asili and Mr Jaramogi leading Ford-Kenya. Mr Kibaki, another key opposition politician, ran for the presidency on his then Democratic Party ticket. In the end, Moi triumphed. A similar script played out in subsequent elections — a thing that the opposition is working round the clock to avoid in the 2027 vote.

In the presidential elections, Mr Moi garnered 1,927,645 votes against Mr Matiba’s 1,354,856. Mr Kibaki polled 1,035,507 while Mr Oginga got 903,886. The figures show the opposition would have easily floored Mr Moi should they have fronted a joint candidate.

It was the same script in 1997, even after the ‘Hilton Agreement’ that indicated that all opposition candidates would renounce their claim to the presidency and consider a joint ticket.

Mr Moi again won against a disjointed opposition that fielded four candidates.

Mr Moi polled 2,500,865 votes, followed by Mr Kibaki (1,911,742), Mr Raila Odinga (667,886), Mr Kijana Wamalwa (505,704) and Ms Charity Ngilu (488,600), among others.

In 2007, a united Orange movement that beat Mr Kibaki in the 2005 referendum split in the run up to the presidential race, handing the incumbent a second term in the contest poll that plunged the country into a deadly post-election violence.

The split saw then Lang’ata MP Raila Odinga part ways with then Mwingi North MP Kalonzo Musyoka. Mr Musyoka led a group of ODM Kenya supporters, mainly from Eastern Province, while Mr Odinga’s camp included fellow ODM presidential aspirants William Ruto, Musalia Mudavadi, Najib Balala and Joseph Nyagah.

Mr Kibaki of PNU won after polling 4,584,721 votes against Mr Odinga’s 4,352,993 and Mr Musyoka’s 879, 903.

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mnyamori@ke.nationmedia.com