PHOTOS: SIFUNA TAKES OVER TEP PARTY, CONFIRMS PLANS TO RENAME IT LINDA MWANANCHI AS HE MOVES TO SUSTAIN 2027 CAMPAIGN

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has confirmed plans to rebrand and rename his newly acquired party, The Equitable Party, as the Linda Mwananchi Movement.

Speaking as he was unveiled as party leader, Sifuna said all Linda Mwananchi Movement leaders had agreed to the move so that the brand built on public support could keep its momentum.

The announcement comes days after the Political Parties Tribunal ordered the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to reserve the name, which the office did immediately. Sifuna nevertheless accused the registrar’s office of deliberately trying to frustrate the movement, saying it exists solely to perpetuate political fraud.

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, who also addressed the gathering, said the party would be renamed and claimed that 600,000 people had registered within three hours of the registration drive opening. Osotsi said Sunday’s event was meant mainly to announce the party the movement is adopting, with a bigger launch of the Linda Mwananchi Movement to come. He gave no date for it.

TEP leader Gilbert Marava confirmed that Sifuna will be the party’s leader and its candidate in the 2027 presidential election. The event was attended by movement principals including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya. Last week, after a leadership retreat, the movement’s leaders resolved to end their differences and back Sifuna as leader and presidential candidate.