The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties has initiated the process of renaming The Equitable Party to Linda Mwananchi Movement, advancing a rebranding plan associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has formally initiated the process to change the name of The Equitable Party (TEP) to Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM), marking a significant step towards the party’s proposed new identity.
In a letter dated 13 October 2026, Registrar of Political Parties J. C. Lorionokou confirmed receipt of documents submitted by TEP Secretary-General Emmanuel Soreh in support of the proposed change.
The documents included a resolution adopted by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) on 8 October 2026, approving the change of name.
“This Office is in receipt of your letter dated 8th October 2026 forwarding the following documents; Resolution of the National Executive Committee (NEC) held on 8th October 2026 resolving to change the party name from The Equitable Party (TEP) to Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM),” the letter stated.
The party had advertised the proposed name change in the Daily Nation newspaper on 10 October and published the notice on its official website.
ORPP outlines next steps in rebranding process
Following its review of the submitted documents, the ORPP confirmed that it had initiated the gazettement process under Section 20(1)(d) of the Political Parties Act, which governs changes to a political party’s name, symbol, colours and slogan.
However, the proposed rebranding must still comply with the legal requirements governing changes to registered political parties.
Under the process outlined by the Registrar, the party must allow 14 days from the date of newspaper publication before reporting any public representations concerning the proposed name change.
The ORPP also directed the party to inform the office whether members of the public had raised objections and explain how any representations had been addressed.
“Following the expiry of fourteen (14) days from the date of publication of the change of name in the newspaper, the party is requested to apprise this Office of representations received from the public if any, regarding the proposed change of party name and the manner in which such representations have been addressed, in accordance with Section 20(4) of the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D,” the letter added.
The process therefore remains subject to the applicable legal requirements before the proposed new identity can be fully formalised.
Sifuna had announced the proposed name change
The development follows remarks by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna during the launch of TEP on 4 October, when he confirmed plans to rebrand the party as Linda Mwananchi Movement.
Sifuna, who has been associated with the proposed political movement ahead of the 2027 elections, indicated that the party intended to adopt the new identity.
He also maintained that TEP would retain its existing name if the rebranding encountered further obstacles, allowing the party to continue operating under its current identity should the name-change bid fail.
The latest communication from the ORPP gives the proposal a formal step forward, although it does not amount to final approval of the new name.
Alternative political arrangements also discussed
The proposed rebranding has unfolded alongside discussions involving other political vehicles, including The Mwananchi Party (TMP), associated with Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, and the National Democratic Alliance (LINDA).
The discussions have fuelled interest in the political alignments that could emerge ahead of the 2027 General Election.
For now, the immediate focus remains on completing the statutory process required to rename TEP.
If the process is completed successfully, Linda Mwananchi Movement will become the party’s new identity. Until then, the proposed change remains subject to the relevant legal and regulatory requirements.
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