In a notice issued to supporters on November 12, the movement described the NDC as a statutory meeting necessary to fulfil legal requirements for establishing the party. Delegates are expected to approve a name change and ratify key decisions.
The conference is expected to formalise the transition from The Equitable Party (TEP) to the Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM), whose proposed leader is Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna. However, the process has now encountered a legal challenge.
The case was filed at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal by Emmanuel Wellingtone Khamala, who identifies himself as a registered member of The Equitable Party. Through lawyers Danstan Omari and Timothy Kilonzo, he wants the conference suspended.
In his complaint, Khamala accuses the party leadership of excluding members from important decisions and establishing leadership structures without conducting elections. He further claims that grassroots elections have not been held since the party was formed.
The petitioner also questions the legitimacy of delegates expected at the conference, arguing that they were not selected through properly elected party structures. He maintains that the party constitution requires established branch, county and regional structures.
The lawsuit names the party's National Executive Committee, National Elections Board, IEBC, Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and Political Parties Liaison Committee as respondents. Sifuna has been listed as an interested party in the proceedings.
Despite the challenge, Linda Mwananchi has maintained that only designated delegates from registered Equitable Party members will attend the conference. It also stated that each county has been allocated delegates according to its registered membership.
Meanwhile, Sifuna is facing a separate High Court petition filed by Alan Masakhalia seeking accountability over contributions collected through Paybill number 3033049, unveiled in July. On November 9, Sifuna asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that political fundraising disputes should be handled under the Election Campaign Financing Act.
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