Embakasi East MP Babu Owino had yesterday shared an email from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) seeking to explain the situation around Linda Mwananchi name and the origins of The Mwananchi Party. Mp Babu Owino shared the document on Thursday, September 24 in response to the lively debate on the political party of the Linda Mwananchi movement and how exactly the Mwananchi name came about in the first place. According to Owino, Linda Mwananchi principals visited the ORPP on August 4, 2026, to understand the processes in relation to the name and the registration of the party.

“Remember, the Linda Mwananchi principals visited the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) on 4 th August 2026, to seek clarification regarding the Linda Mwananchi name,” Owino noted.

The ORPP email, which Owino shared, shows that the file had originated from a political party previously known as Muungano Party, which had sought permission to change its name to The Mwananchi Party.

The Registrar’s letter indicates that the request to change the name of the party was approved and that the change took effect on September 10, 2026. It is in the Registrar’s letter that an objection to the change of name is mentioned. This objection, dated August 30 was signed by Lawrence Nzunga. According to the letter, the objector later withdrew his objection on September 8, citing that his concerns had been addressed. The Registrar went on to notify the party that the change of name had taken effect, pursuant to the provisions of Section 20(5) of the Political Parties Act.

“In light of the foregoing, the Registrar hereby notifies the party that the change of name has taken effect, pursuant to Section 20(5) of the Political Parties Act,” the letter reads.

A Gazette Notice was published on August 28th calling for public representations on the proposed name change. According to the ORPP records, no representations were received within the stipulated period, except for the objection mentioned earlier, which was withdrawn.

The name change and the attendant controversies come as Linda Mwananchi movement leaders are set to face renewed questions over the political party at the helm of the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election. Mwananchi Party said its registration and recognition process was in progress when Linda Mwananchi principals knocked on the ORPP doors on August 4. According to Citizen Digital, the party’s name was changed from Muungano Party to The Mwananchi Party on September 10.

Owino had previously stated that his move to launch a political party preceded the formation of Linda Mwananchi. Based on his account, he set out on his own to register a political party after an ODM function at Bomas of Kenya in February 2025. His efforts bore fruit after multiple attempts. Meanwhile, the new developments add a new chapter to the saga of political wrangles and mix-up of political party vehicles among some of the country’s leading figures. For now, the ORPP records give a chronology of events surrounding the name change, while debates rage on the relationship between The Mwananchi Party and the wider Linda Mwananchi movement ahead of the 2027 elections.