Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna/ HANDOUT
Linda Mwananchi leaders are considering at least four parties, including Ukombozi People’s Party, as their vehicle for the 2027 General Election
While a search for the party on the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties website failed to provide details of the outfit, sources say the party is a rebranded form of UDP.
The United Democratic Party (UDP) is linked to the late former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo.
The movement is seeking to form a party after the registrar rejected their bid to register Linda Mwananchi as a political party or use it as a brand name.
“We have a party, but we don’t want the state to know what we are doing. Once we are ready, we will do a proper launch and announcement,” Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi told the Star.
Osotsi neither confirmed nor denied the claims, but said the leaders were treading carefully because of what he described as “state tactics” to infiltrate or scuttle their plans.
“The state is frustrating the registration of Linda Mwananchi. We are now in court. We are at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to challenge the decision of the registrar,” he said.
Sources within the movement said the leaders were considering at least four existing political parties as possible vehicles for the 2027 polls.
“We are looking at up to four outfits. At the appropriate time, you will get to know our new vehicle. That is all I can tell you,” a Linda Mwananchi insider told the Star.
Addressing a Forum of Young Aspirants (FOYA) at Ufungamano House on Tuesday, Linda Mwananchi leader Edwin Sifuna said they are fighting the registrar in court for a brand name.
“What we are fighting for is not a party. We have parties. We are fighting for our brand. Our name. We have many parties. Kasongo thinks he is dealing with children,” he said.
“We are political children of Raila Odinga. Raila Odinga has plan A, B, C, D, E, F, G up to Z. Did we sleep in class? Just know we have parties. We want our brand. We have built this thing. We want the registrar to give us our brand, and we brand it in whatever party that we choose from the ones that we have.”
The registrar rejected the registration after finding that another outfit was already registered under a similar name.
The Linda Mwananchi team, however, has questioned the decision and accused the registrar’s office of frustrating its political ambitions.
“We want to expose the mischief in that office. We have written to him to give us the particulars of the party he claims is registered as Linda, but he has refused,” Osotsi said.
During the burial of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s wife last week, Sifuna hinted that the movement had already secured a political party.
“Honestly, some people think Sifuna doesn’t have a party? Let our supporters relax, a rose by any other name still sells,” Sifuna said.
The Star established that the movement’s political identity was at the centre of its weekend retreat in Limuru, Kiambu County.
The retreat came as the October 15 deadline for political parties to submit details of their authorised officials and specimen signatures to the IEBC draws closer.
Some leaders have raised concerns that the movement could be locked out of the 2027 elections because of the registration hurdles and the tight timelines set by the IEBC.
IEBC has already gazetted election guidelines requiring political parties intending to participate in the General Election to submit the names and specimen signatures of their authorised persons by October 15, 2026.
“Each political party intending to participate in the general election shall submit the names and specimen signatures of its authorised persons on or before Thursday, October 15, 2026,” the guidelines state.
The notice also requires participating parties to submit nomination rules certified by the Registrar of Political Parties to the IEBC by October 30, 2026.
The deadlines have heightened pressure on Sifuna and his allies to settle on a political vehicle and complete the statutory requirements needed to participate in the elections.
DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala said the remaining period was too short for the movement to register a new political party and complete all the requirements.
Malala urged Khalwale to consider surrendering his existing party to Sifuna, arguing that this would provide a faster route to the ballot.
“Within 50 days, you cannot register a political party. I want to urge Khalwale that if you are truly committed to Sifuna’s presidency, then surrender your party to him [Sifuna] so that he becomes the party leader.”
Khalwale has publicly associated himself with a newly registered political party.
Sifuna, however, has sought to reassure his supporters, insisting that the movement is ahead of the game and will unveil its 2027 political vehicle at the appropriate time.
INSTANT ANALYSIS
Linda Mwananchi’s biggest challenge is time. The rejection of its registration has forced the movement to search for an alternative political vehicle just weeks before key IEBC deadlines. The uncertainty could expose divisions, weaken its grassroots mobilisation and confuse supporters. While leaders insist they have a plan, secrecy risks creating doubts about their preparedness. Adopting an existing party may offer a shortcut, but could also trigger ownership disputes and weaken the movement’s identity.
