- Chepalungu MP aspirant Festus Ruto has challenged TEP’s proposed change of name to Linda Mwananchi Movement
- Ruto wants the Registrar of Political Parties to verify whether the process complied with the law and the party’s constitution
- His objection comes after LINDA filed a separate complaint citing two pending cases before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal
Harry Ivan Mboto is a Current Affairs and Politics Editor at TUKO.co.ke, covering political and world news. Mboto has five years of journalism experience and joined TUKO.co.ke in 2024
A Chepalungu parliamentary aspirant, Festus Ruto, has challenged the proposed change of name of The Equitable Party (TEP) to Linda Mwananchi Movement, asking the Registrar of Political Parties to verify whether the process complies with the law and the party’s constitution.
Source: Facebook
In written submissions addressed to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), Ruto said his objection was not against the proposed name itself but centred on the procedure followed in seeking the change.
The objection comes as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s political vehicle pursues the rebrand, following TEP’s launch on October 4, when Sifuna was unveiled as the party leader and presidential candidate ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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Ruto cited Gazette Notice No. 16427 and Section 20 of the Political Parties Act as the basis for his submissions, asking the registrar to establish whether all the required steps had been followed before the name change is approved.
“I wish to clarify at the outset that this objection is not directed at the proposed name Linda Mwananchi Movement itself. My concern is whether the procedure leading to the proposed change complies with the Political Parties Act and the registered Constitution of The Equitable Party,” he stated.
Why is Festus Ruto questioning TEP’s name change?
Ruto noted that publicly available information indicated that TEP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) met on October 8, and resolved to pursue the proposed change of name.
He also referred to reports indicating that the documents submitted to the registrar included a notice of the NEC meeting, a signed attendance list, the committee’s resolution, statutory Form PP.10 and evidence that the proposed change had been published in the Daily Nation on October 10 and on the party’s website.
According to Ruto, the registrar subsequently initiated the gazettement process and asked the party to report any public representations received after the applicable 14-day period following newspaper publication, together with details of how the concerns had been addressed.
However, he said he had not found publicly available documentation showing that the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) had met and approved the proposed change by October 20.
“As at October 20, I have been unable to identify any publicly available notice, report, resolution or other documentation showing that a National Delegates Conference (NDC) of The Equitable Party has subsequently met and approved the proposed change,” Ruto wrote.
“I do not assert that no such meeting or approval exists; rather, I respectfully ask the registrar to verify the position from the party's official records,” he added.
How does LINDA’s objection affect the proposed rebrand?
Ruto’s submission follows a separate objection filed by the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA), which also wants the Registrar to halt TEP’s proposed adoption of the Linda Mwananchi Movement name.
LINDA filed its objection on October 18, with its founder and treasurer, Ndanu, citing two unresolved cases before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT).
The cases, identified as PPDTC/E020/2026 and PPDTA/E001/2026, are yet to be heard and determined. LINDA argues that proceeding with the proposed name change while the disputes remain pending could be premature and legally contestable.
The registrar had confirmed in a letter dated October 13 that the office had reviewed TEP’s submitted documents and begun the gazettement process under Section 20(1)(d) of the Political Parties Act.
Source: TUKO.co.ke