Sifuna: Registrar of Political Parties exists to facilitate fraud

Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has accused the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) of enabling political fraud, as he announced the creation of his new political party, The Equitable Party, for the 2027 General Election. Sifuna made the allegations on October 4, 2026, while formally unveiling the party in Nairobi. He stated that the ORPP exists solely to facilitate political fraud, following his departure from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and efforts to find a suitable platform.

On October 1, 2026, the Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu Lorionokou, approved the reservation of the name Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM) under Section 4B of the Political Parties Act. This decision came after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal overturned a previous rejection of the proposed name and found that an earlier reservation linked to Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) had expired.

The LMM name is now reserved for 90 days, allowing the promoters to complete the remaining registration requirements. However, the reservation does not automatically register the party as a political entity.

Sifuna and his allies officially launched The Equitable Party (TEP) on October 4, with Senator Sifuna becoming the leader and presidential candidate. The party plans to tackle corruption, reduce government wastage, and address the cost of living, among other issues, ahead of the 2027 General Election. The formation is currently pursuing dual objectives - building The Equitable Party while pursuing a potential rebranding to Linda Mwananchi that complies with the ORPP's regulations.