Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna's party can hold its National Delegates Conference (NDC) on Friday, November 13. The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal declined to suspend the meeting, The Eastleigh Voice and the Daily Nation reported. Delegates are expected to approve changing the party's name from The Equitable Party (TEP) to the Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM).
The ruling does not end the legal fight. According to The Eastleigh Voice, the tribunal sent the main complaint by party members Paul Kiragu Gachoka and Pamela Achieng Simwata to a full hearing. It warned that resolutions passed at the conference could still be overturned, depending on the outcome. The complainants say the party broke its constitution when it approved the agenda, selected delegates and prepared to amend its governing documents.
Their lawyer, Eddy Otieno, told the tribunal that the National Governing Council had not approved the agenda. He also questioned whether the party had set up a National Elections Board. Party lawyer Duncan Anzala said the two had joined on October 22 and objected the next day. He said some people were joining the party "with a view to trying to delay that process." The Registrar of Political Parties said the objections had been addressed under the party constitution. It is waiting for the conference returns before assessing the changes.
Capital FM reported a separate petition by party member Emmanuel Willyngtone Khamala. He argued that officials were appointed without elections and that no grassroots elections had produced legitimate delegates. According to Capital FM, the tribunal dismissed his bid to block the NDC. A third complaint, by James Onyango Nyangor, was marked as compromised after the party promised that no elections would take place on Friday, The Eastleigh Voice reported.
The meeting will be private. LMM Head of Communication Pauline Njoroge said that Friday's NDC would be a closed-door meeting with no media coverage. According to Capital FM, the venue has not been made public. Each county has been allocated a set number of delegates based on its registered membership.
Delegates are expected to ratify the leadership unveiled at the movement's launch on October 30. That line-up has Sifuna as party leader. His proposed deputies are former Meru Governor Kawira Mwangaza, former Law Society of Kenya president Faith Odhiambo and Mavoko MP Patrick Makau. Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi is proposed as chairperson and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi as secretary-general. Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was named head of the presidential campaign.
Sifuna unveiled TEP on October 4 as his political vehicle after his fallout with ODM, where he served as secretary-general. On October 8, the party's executive approved the name change. The Eastleigh Voice said the conference may also consider constitutional amendments, nomination rules and coalition arrangements ahead of 2027.