Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) is facing another legal hurdle after a member of The Equitable Party (TEP) petitioned the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) to stop its planned National Delegates Conference.
The petitioner, Emmanuel Willyngtone Khamala, wants the tribunal to suspend the gathering scheduled for Friday, November 13, 2026, until his application and the underlying dispute are heard and determined.
Khamala has challenged the process through which the movement’s current officials were appointed, arguing that the party leadership failed to follow the procedures outlined in its constitution.
In his petition, he alleges that appointments were made without elections or proper participation by registered party members, despite plans to present the officials for approval during the forthcoming conference.
The dispute raises questions about the legitimacy of the leadership structure and the procedures being followed as Sifuna’s political team seeks to transform TEP into the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
Petitioner questions appointment of party officials
Khamala argues that the party’s leadership arrangements should not be approved before members have been given an opportunity to participate in a constitutionally recognised election process.
He is also challenging the manner in which delegates expected to attend Friday’s conference were selected.
According to the petitioner, the party has not conducted grassroots elections to establish legitimate branch and county structures from which delegates should be drawn.
He wants the tribunal to declare the existing leadership improperly constituted and suspend its operations until elections are conducted in accordance with the party constitution.
If granted, the orders could interfere with the movement’s preparations to formalise its proposed political identity and leadership arrangements.
Linda Mwananchi Movement defends delegate selection
The movement has, however, defended its preparations for the National Delegates Conference, insisting that participation will be limited to properly designated representatives.
In a notice circulated to supporters on Thursday, November 12, the organisation said delegates would be selected from TEP members who were registered by the time the conference notice was published.
It also explained that each county had been assigned a specific number of representatives based on its registered membership.
The movement warned that the allocated delegate numbers must be followed, indicating that attendance would not be open to every party supporter.
The clarification comes amid growing disagreements over who qualifies to participate in the conference and whether the process meets the requirements of the party’s governing documents.
Conference expected to approve proposed name change
The November 13 gathering is expected to consider the proposed transformation of The Equitable Party into the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
According to the organisation, delegates will be asked to approve the new political identity and ratify other decisions required to complete the transition.
The proposed changes are part of Sifuna’s team’s efforts to establish a formal political platform under the Linda Mwananchi banner.
However, the latest petition threatens to complicate those plans if the tribunal issues orders stopping the conference or questioning the legitimacy of the existing leadership.
The tribunal will therefore have to consider the petitioner’s concerns alongside the party’s position on the delegate selection process and the planned meeting.
Name dispute previously delayed Linda Mwananchi registration
The latest legal challenge follows an earlier disagreement over the proposed name Linda Mwananchi Movement.
The Registrar of Political Parties initially rejected the name reservation application over concerns about its similarity to another political outfit known as LINDA.
Sifuna’s team challenged that decision before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.
The tribunal overturned the Registrar’s decision and directed the office to reconsider the application, allowing the movement to continue pursuing its preferred name.
The earlier dispute highlighted the legal and administrative challenges facing the political formation as it sought to establish a distinct identity.
Previous petitions also raised concerns over the conference
The latest application is not the first legal challenge involving the planned November 13 proceedings.
James Onyango Nyangor previously questioned the proposed party elections, alleging that the organisers had failed to provide the 21-day notice required under the party constitution.
Other members, including Paul Kiragu Gachoka and Pamela Achieng Simwata, have also raised objections concerning the conference agenda, the selection of delegates and proposed constitutional amendments.
The separate complaints have increased pressure on the movement to demonstrate that its transition arrangements comply with the party constitution and relevant political parties legislation.
Tribunal dispute puts Friday meeting under scrutiny
The new petition adds another layer of uncertainty to the political and legal challenges surrounding the transition from TEP to the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
While Sifuna’s team maintains that it has established a process for selecting delegates and conducting the conference, the petitioner wants the tribunal to intervene before the proposed decisions are approved.
The central question is whether the leadership appointments, delegate selection and planned constitutional changes have followed the procedures required by the party’s governing documents.
The tribunal’s decision could determine whether the November 13 conference proceeds as planned or whether the movement must first address the complaints raised by its members.
For now, the dispute places the planned political transition under fresh legal scrutiny as Sifuna’s team seeks to establish the Linda Mwananchi Movement as its formal political platform.
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