Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna’s political movement faces a fresh challenge over its planned delegates conference.
TEP member Emmanuel Khamala asks the tribunal to halt the November 13 conference, challenging leadership appointments and delegate selection.
A party member has asked the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to stop the Linda Mwananchi NDC scheduled for Friday, November 13. The petition challenges leadership appointments and delegate selection within the movement associated with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Emmanuel Willyngtone Khamala, a member of The Equitable Party (TEP), wants the conference suspended pending determination of his application. He alleges that party officials made appointments without following the party constitution.
Petitioner challenges Linda Mwananchi NDC preparations
Khamala argues that the current leadership took office without elections or participation by registered party members. He also objects to plans to ratify those appointments at the National Delegates Conference.
In addition, he questions how the party selected delegates for the meeting. His petition alleges that TEP held no grassroots elections to establish legitimate branch and county structures.
Khamala therefore wants the tribunal to declare the current leadership illegally constituted and suspend its operations until elections take place. His application puts both the leadership arrangements and conference preparations before the tribunal.
However, the Linda Mwananchi Movement has defended its preparations. In a Thursday notice, it said only designated delegates drawn from eligible TEP members would attend. Those members must have registered by the date the party published the conference notice.
The movement also said each county had a delegate allocation based on its registered membership. It urged supporters to observe those allocations strictly.
Name change and earlier disputes
The November 13 conference will consider the proposed change from TEP to Linda Mwananchi Movement. Delegates will also ratify other decisions intended to formalise the transition.
Meanwhile, the latest petition follows an earlier dispute over the movement’s preferred name. The Registrar of Political Parties initially rejected its reservation because of similarities with another political outfit, LINDA.
The tribunal subsequently overturned that decision and directed the Registrar to reconsider the application. That ruling allowed the movement to continue the name reservation process.
Separately, James Onyango Nyangor has challenged the planned November 13 elections. He alleges that the party failed to issue the 21-day notice required by its constitution.
Other members, including Paul Kiragu Gachoka and Pamela Achieng Simwata, have also raised objections. Their concerns cover the conference agenda, delegate selection and proposed constitutional changes.
