Linda Mwananchi registration dispute moves to Political Parties Tribunal

The row over registration of Linda Mwananchi Movement has moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal. The case challenging the Registrar of Political Parties’ decision to reject reservation of the name “Linda Mwananchi Movement” and registering it as a political party has been certified as urgent. The Tribunal, chaired by Innocent Muganda, directed that the application be considered on an expedited basis and ordered the Registrar of Political Parties to respond to the application. The applicants, including Pauline Njoki Njoroge, former LSK president Faith Odhiambo and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, claim they applied on June 4, 2026, to reserve the name “Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM)” but their request was initially rejected on the grounds of “public interest”. They claim the Registrar later agreed to reserve the name following a meeting on August 4, 2026, but reversed the decision three days later, citing the registration of another entity, Liberty National Democratic Alliance, whose acronym is Linda. The applicants have moved to the Tribunal seeking orders barring the Registrar from considering, processing, reserving or registering the name “Linda” or “Linda Mwananchi”, or any similar variation, in favour of another person or entity pending determination of the case. The application will be heard inter partes on August 25, 2026, at 2:30pm.