Osotsi claims TEP’s membership hit 600K within 2 hours before launch

Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi asserted that The Equitable Party (TEP) garnered over 600,000 registrations within the first two hours following its official launch. This claim was made during TEP's unveiling ceremony in Nairobi on Sunday, October 4th, 2026, where Edwin Sifuna was officially named the party's presidential candidate.

Osotsi, a prominent member of the Linda Mwananchi Movement, made the announcement during the event. However, he later disclosed that the registration process was halted when the registration platform was abruptly discontinued. Osotsi demanded the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) restore the registration platform, warning that the party would escalate the issue if the issue remained unresolved.

The exact number of registrations could not be independently confirmed at the time of publication. Osotsi also announced that 35 county branches that were once part of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) had joined TEP, highlighting the growing support for the party. Sifuna and his associates formally embraced TEP as their political platform in preparation for the 2027 General Election.

The event attracted numerous politicians from the Linda Mwananchi Movement, including Vihiga Governor James Orengo, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, and fellow senators Osotsi, Boni Khalwale, and Richard Onyonka. Despite the presence of these politicians, their attendance does not automatically imply that each had officially joined TEP.

Sifuna's unveiling of TEP was a significant shift in his political organization, emphasizing a united front for his presidential bid. This development comes as various political parties and alliances gear up for the 2027 General Election, with leaders striving to solidify their structures and bases of support prior to the election campaign.