By Anderson Ojwang
A common phrase that goes, “Everyone for himself or herself and God for us all”, is fast becoming applicable among the Linda Mwananchi fraternity.
The Linda Mwananchi political grouping, an offshoot of a rebellion within the Orange Democratic Movement, has witnessed its key founders and principals, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Siaya Governor James Orengo and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, take different political paths.
The dream of a single political party by the principals hit a brick wall after the Registrar of Political Parties initially declined to reserve the name and register the outfit.
The move prompted the co-principals to move to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and embark on Plan B, which was a mission to acquire a new political vehicle. Everyone for his party, while Linda Mwananchi is for all of us.
Recently, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal overruled the Registrar and directed that the group could use the name, and Sifuna received approval for the name reservation.
But that was too little, too late, as Babu had already unveiled his party, the Mwananchi Party, while Orengo came up with the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and Sifuna with The Equitable Party (TEP).
Bemoaned
Orengo said the decision to form individual parties was not his and has maintained that there should be a single presidential candidate for the opposition.
“It is my wish, and I have stated this openly, and my co-principals, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, here know that my position all through was to have one party and one presidential candidate,” he said.
Orengo said that, during his recent meeting with Babu and Sifuna, he had impressed upon them the need for a single political party.
But the single party is now a mirage, as Orengo is now associated with the LDP, Babu has the Mwananchi Party, while Sifuna, at the weekend, unveiled The Equitable Party (TEP).
“At the last meeting we had with Babu Owino and Edwin Sifuna somewhere in Nairobi, we didn’t quite agree at that time. I paid for the lunch, and I felt very bad because I insisted that we should have one party and one presidential candidate,” he said.
Mwananchi Party
Babu recently unveiled his party and expressed his gratitude to Kenyans, showcasing what he says is a rapid surge in membership of the Mwananchi Party. He claimed that the political outfit had registered 98,365 members within three days of launching its recruitment drive.
*“Wakenya nyinyi ni watu wa nguvu sana. Thank you so much for the massive support. Tuendelee kujisajili tujenge hii nchi pamoja. Dial 509# to be a member of our party,” he said.
On October 7, Babu announced that the Mwananchi Party had reached 1.4 million members and invited Kenyans to join the party using the recruitment code.
Sifuna
The immediate former ODM Secretary-General faced hurdles in acquiring a political vehicle from UDP and finally settled on TEP as he waits to rebrand it as the Linda Mwananchi Party.
Sifuna, who has become a unifying factor in the Luhya political landscape, has emerged as a potential presidential candidate in the opposition.
Babu recently declared his support for Sifuna’s presidential bid and is a key figure in his political journey to the presidency.
Sifuna formally unveiled TEP in Nairobi as his presidential vehicle, with the party leadership handing him the reins as its new leader.
The party was registered on March 25, 2022, under certificate serial number 100. Its slogan is “Tusawazishe”, meaning “Let us equalise”.
TEP’s stated vision is to build an equitable and prosperous nation while promoting social, economic and democratic rights and responsible management of public resources.
The party is now being positioned as the political vehicle through which Sifuna and his allies will organise ahead of the 2027 elections.
Sifuna called for an end to what he described as the era of leaders presenting themselves as experts on every issue, as he outlined his vision for The Equitable Party (TEP) ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna said Kenyans should play a more active role in shaping political decisions, with leaders expected to listen, consult and remain accountable.
“The people must not remain an audience to politics. They must become its authors,” Sifuna said.
LDP
Orengo has moved to reawaken the political spirit of the 2002 Kanu rebel politicians, led by the late Raila Amolo Odinga, by taking over the party.
The party becomes Orengo’s new political vehicle after he failed to take over ODM.
However, it is not smooth sailing, as he faces obstacles from some of the former members.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, September 30, Ayika J, a close associate of the governor, said Orengo would launch the LDP, which he described as the vehicle for his presidential bid.
Orengo has taken over the leadership of the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), replacing Fred Ogola, who has expressed disappointment over the decision and questioned the direction the party has taken.
In a statement addressed to members of the LDP fraternity on October 6, Ogola said he had received the decision to replace him with Orengo with deep disappointment, describing the move as a betrayal after the work he said they had built together within the party.
He also criticised the party’s decision to join the Ukombozi/Linda Mwananchi coalition, saying the move risked undermining the LDP’s long-term goals in exchange for short-term political gains.
With the possibility of Linda Mwananchi acquiring registration, the presidency will be the point of convergence, but the principals will fight it out for various seats, save for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat.
