Linda Mwananchi rebrand sails amid internal revolt and legal battles

The Linda Mwananchi Movement has taken a major step towards formalising its political rebranding after delegates at a National Delegates Conference (NDC) of The Equitable Party (TEP) approved a raft of changes, despite growing internal opposition and legal challenges over the legitimacy of the process.

The conference, held yesterday at DNM Events Park along Thika Road, approved the change of the party's name from The Equitable Party to Linda Mwananchi Movement, alongside proposed changes to its colours, symbol and headquarters.

In a statement issued after the meeting, the movement said delegates had also approved amendments to the party constitution and its nomination and election rules, paving the way for the new political outfit to consolidate its structures ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The delegates further authorised the party leadership to begin coalition-building talks with like-minded political parties as opposition leaders intensify efforts to build a formidable political alternative to President William Ruto's administration.

The statement described the resolutions as a significant step towards formalising the party's transition and strengthening its organisational structure.

However, the meeting was held behind closed doors, with journalists denied access to the venue and the proceedings not streamed live.

Organisers had also not publicly disclosed the venue beforehand. It was only later established that the delegates were meeting at DNM Events Park along Thika Road.

Insiders said the decision to keep the meeting away from public scrutiny was informed by fears of possible infiltration by goons allegedly deployed by individuals allied to the broad-based government.

There were also concerns that some members of The Equitable Party could oppose the proposed rebranding, potentially disrupting the proceedings.

The disagreements within the party ranks have been particularly evident this week, with the dispute spilling over to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal after party member Emmanuel Willyngtone Khamala filed a case seeking to stop the planned NDC.

In his application filed on Wednesday, Khamala accused the National Executive Committee and other party officials of making crucial decisions without consulting members. He argued that the process had sidelined the very people whose mandate the leadership was expected to represent.

He traced the dispute to October 4, when The Equitable Party was launched at Serena Hotel and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna was introduced as its party leader.

Khamala alleged that four days later, the party's executive committee resolved to adopt the Linda Mwananchi Movement name without first seeking sufficient input from the wider membership.

He also questioned the announcement of individuals as party officials, challenging the process through which they had acquired their positions.

According to him, no elections had been held to establish whether those presented as office holders had been duly elected or appointed.

Another point of contention was the selection of delegates expected to attend the November 13 conference.

Khamala argued that the party had not conducted grassroots elections to establish representative structures, casting doubt on the legitimacy of those expected to make decisions at the NDC.

He cautioned that resolutions passed at a conference lacking proper representation could expose the party to further legal challenges. In his petition, he asked the tribunal to issue interim orders stopping the conference until his complaint was heard and determined.

He further sought a declaration that the existing party leadership was unlawfully constituted, alongside orders requiring officials to convene a National Governing Council, examine the party's organisational structures and delegate lists, and oversee fresh grassroots elections.

The petitioner also challenged the proposed changes to the party's name, colours, symbol and headquarters, arguing that they must be undertaken in accordance with the party constitution.

His latest application followed an earlier attempt to have the matter resolved internally. In a letter dated October 28, Khamala had urged the party leadership to postpone or call off the conference and release the names of the proposed delegates to allow members to scrutinise the list.

The legal battle took a new turn after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal declined to stop the NDC, allowing the party to proceed with its plans.

Khamala subsequently challenged the tribunal's decision before the High Court, which certified the application as urgent but declined to issue orders barring the conference.

The decision gave the party leadership room to proceed with the meeting while the legal dispute remained unresolved, removing an immediate obstacle to its rebranding plans.

Beyond the internal wrangles, the approval of coalition negotiations signals that the movement is also looking towards the wider opposition landscape as political formations begin positioning themselves for the 2027 contest.

The resolution gives the leadership an opportunity to engage other parties on possible partnerships and alliances as it seeks to establish Linda Mwananchi as a recognisable political force.

For Sifuna and those associated with the movement, the rebranding is an attempt to give the Linda Mwananchi political message an institutional home through which it can pursue a broader national agenda.

However, disagreements over the transition raise questions about the movement's ability to maintain internal cohesion as it seeks to build structures across the country.