Babu Owino releases new details on Mwananchi Party name change

The Mwananchi Party has issued a clarification on the process through which its name was changed from Linda Mwananchi, with Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino saying the matter should be understood based on the official record from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP). 

In an official statement issued on Thursday, September 24, the party explained that its principals visited the ORPP on August 4 to seek clarification over the status of the Linda Mwananchi name and the registration process. 

According to correspondence from the ORPP, the formal change of name to The Mwananchi Party took effect on September 10. 

“The official change of name to The Mwananchi Party was subsequently effected on 10th September 2026, as reflected in the correspondence issued by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. It is therefore important that the events surrounding the matter are understood within their proper chronology,” read the statement.

The Registrar’s letter stated that the new name took effect after no representations were received from the public following a Gazette Notice published on August 28, inviting submissions on the proposed change.

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Additionally, the ORPP acknowledged an objection filed on August 30 against the proposed change from the Muungano Party to The Mwananchi Party. 

The petitioner later withdrew the objection on September 8, saying his concerns had been addressed. 

The Registrar subsequently notified the party that the change had taken effect under the Political Parties Act. 

“In light of the foregoing, the Registrar hereby notifies the party that the change of name has taken effect, pursuant to Section 20(5) of the Political Parties Act, Cap. 7D,” the ORPP confirmed.

The Mwananchi Party said it has released the correspondence to support its account of the dates and events surrounding the name change. 

The party’s name has been a contentious issue, with a separate dispute involving the Linda name as officials of the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) claimed rights to the name, symbols and identity associated with their party.

In August, LINDA officials said they began their registration process in November 2024 and challenged the use of the identification by the Linda Mwananchi movement. 

The dispute reached the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, where a case concerning the reservation of the Linda Mwananchi name had been certified as urgent.

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