Babu Owino Releases New Details in Mwananchi Party Name Change Amid Dispute

Babu Owino Releases New Details in Mwananchi Party Name Change Amid Dispute

The Mwananchi Party has released new details on the process that led to its name change from Linda Mwananchi, seeking to clarify the chronology of events amid an ongoing dispute over the party’s identity.

Embakasi East Member of Parliament Babu Owino said the matter should be understood through the official records issued by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).

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

The party said subsequent correspondence from the political parties regulator confirmed that the formal change of name to The Mwananchi Party took effect on September 10, 2026.

“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.”

The party added that the chronology was important in understanding how the name change was processed.

According to the ORPP, the new name took effect after the completion of the required public participation process. A Gazette Notice published on August 28 invited members of the public to submit representations regarding the proposed change.

The Registrar’s records also show that an objection was filed on August 30 against the proposed change involving the Muungano Party and The Mwananchi Party.

The objection was later withdrawn on September 8 after the concerns raised by the objector were addressed.

Following the withdrawal, the ORPP notified the party that the name change had formally 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 Mwananchi Party said it released the correspondence to establish the official timeline and provide clarity amid questions surrounding its new identity.

The name change has, however, remained controversial because of a separate dispute involving the use of the word “Linda”.

Officials associated with the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) have challenged the use of the Linda name, arguing that their party has established rights and an identity associated with the name.

LINDA officials previously said they began their registration process in November 2024 and subsequently raised objections to the Linda Mwananchi identification.

The dispute has since moved beyond political debate, with the matter reaching the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.

A case concerning the reservation of the Linda Mwananchi name was certified as urgent, placing the competing claims before the tribunal for consideration.

The latest clarification from The Mwananchi Party comes as political parties prepare for increased activity ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The party maintains that its name change was processed through the legally established procedure and that the ORPP correspondence provides the official record of the process.

The dispute over the name, however, remains separate from the Registrar’s confirmation that the change took effect on September 10.

The developments are expected to keep attention on the legal ownership, registration and use of political party names as parties position themselves for the next election cycle.

For now, the Mwananchi Party has relied on the ORPP’s official correspondence to explain the sequence of events, while the separate dispute involving LINDA remains subject to the relevant legal and dispute-resolution processes.

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Babu Owino Releases New Details in Mwananchi Party Name Change Amid Dispute