The High Court will consider the Linda Mwananchi Movement dispute again on November 16.
The court certified Emmanuel Khamala’s application as urgent and set a November 16 virtual mention before Justice Wilfrida Okwany.
The High Court has declined to stop a delegates conference in the Linda Mwananchi appeal challenging a tribunal decision. However, it certified the fresh application as urgent and directed the applicant to serve all parties immediately.
In directions issued on November 13, the court said it needed the contested tribunal ruling before considering interim intervention. The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) delivered that decision on November 12, 2026.
The matter will return virtually before Justice Wilfrida Okwany on November 16 for further directions and consideration of the application. Meanwhile, the court’s decision leaves the National Delegates Conference without an interim High Court order stopping it.
Linda Mwananchi appeal challenges party name change
Party member Emmanuel Willyngtone Khamala filed the appeal after the PPDT dismissed his complaint and allowed the conference to proceed. He argues that the tribunal, chaired by Innocent Muganda, erred in rejecting his challenge to the leadership’s decisions.
At the centre of the dispute is The Equitable Party’s transition into the Linda Mwananchi Movement. Khamala questions whether party leaders had legal authority to change its name without consulting registered members.
He also challenges the tribunal’s decision to uphold nominations that the movement conducted on October 30, 2026. In his appeal, Khamala argues that the nomination process failed to meet the required procedural standards.
In addition, he maintains that the party’s growing membership risks exclusion from major internal decisions. His concerns cover leadership changes, internal elections and nomination processes.
Khamala seeks orders halting conference
Through lawyer Danstan Omari, Khamala wants the High Court to allow his appeal and overturn the tribunal’s decision. He also seeks an order stopping the delegates conference until the court determines the dispute.
However, the court declined to grant that interim relief at the initial stage because it lacked the contested ruling. It said it could not examine the tribunal’s decision without that document.
The appeal names The Equitable Party’s National Executive Committee and National Elections Board among the respondents. It also lists the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and the Political Parties Liaison Committee.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is an interested party in the proceedings. The court directed Khamala to serve both the respondents and the interested party ahead of the November 16 mention.
