The Linda Mwananchi faction of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party has rejected a plan to register the caucus’ movement name as a political party.
The Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna-led faction says it has not approved any plan or authorised any person to register the Linda Mwananchi party following an application to the Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP).
Already, the faction has written to the ORPP seeking to block the attempt by an individual identified as Charles Wanyonyi, citing the likelihood of infringement of images and symbols associated with the caucus.
The group says it has not approved the use of the slogan “Linda Mwananchi,” arguing that if registered, it will provide an avenue for the public to be conned.
“The political party is likely to use our clients’ names, images, and goodwill to fraudulently get financing either from members of the public or other entities,” the faction stated through lawyer Duncan Anzala of Henia Anzala & Associates.
The faction informed the ORPP that they were apprehensive over the plan to register the party after reading about the move in one of the dailies.
“In view of the foregoing, our clients urge your office to shun upon and thwart the attempt to defraud Kenyans through political conmanship by declining the application to register “Linda Mwananchi” as a political party,” the letter received at the ORPP on March 4, 2026 states.
Other than Sifuna, the team that has perceived ODM rebels includes Siaya Governor James Orengo; Senators Godfrey Osotsi and Richard Onyonka; MPs Babu Owino, Majimbo Kalasinga, Anthony Kibagendi, Caleb Amisi, Clive Gisairo, Obadiah Barongo, Wilberforce Oundo, and Caroli Omondi, among others.
The faction informed the Registrar that his office is bound by the provisions of Sec. 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act to publish a notice in the Kenya Gazette and at least two newspapers of nationwide circulation, inviting objections to the registration.
“This notwithstanding, and out of abundance of caution, our clients have taken the liberty to express and register their opposition to the application for registration of “Linda Mwananchi” as a political party.”
The group is said not to be seen as promoting the formation of a rival political party, even as they fight from within for what they term as “internal democracy” in ODM.
The group is viciously opposed to the plan to have ODM sign a pact with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and is heavily gravitating to the United Opposition’s’ clarion call of ‘one term’ in reference to the campaign to block William Ruto’s re-election next year.
On Wednesday evening, Sifuna, who is the de facto leader of the group, told the BBC that he has not yet made his mind whether to run for president, saying the team wants to first popularise the “Sisi Ndio Sifuna” movement.
“Before you provoke me, I need to see the statistics. We want to conduct a census of people who call themselves Sifuna, find out how many of us there are, and prove that you are voters and will come out to vote of your own free will,” he said.
The outspoken senator once again retorted that his team is keen on sending Ruto home, arguing that they intend to mobilise massive support to decisively beat the president with a huge margin.
“In 2022, Ruto won by only 200,000 votes, and remember, people who did not vote were 8 million,” Sifuna said, adding that the president must be defeated by a 5-million-vote margin and that can only happen if they approach it as a united force, since he and the United Opposition share a common agenda of making Ruto a one-term president.
