Former Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana’s Muungano Party has announced plans to change its name to The Mwananchi Party (TMP), introducing a new twist to the ongoing battle over the Mwananchi political identity.

A Gazette Notice published on August 24, 2026, showed that the Muungano Party had formally expressed its intention to adopt the new name.

The Registrar of Political Parties has invited members of the public and other interested parties to submit written objections or comments on the proposed change.

The move comes as Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and his Linda Mwananchi political movement continue to face a dispute over the Mwananchi name.

The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal recently allowed Sifuna’s faction to reserve and pursue registration of the Mwananchi name while the legal dispute continues.

The Tribunal also barred the Registrar of Political Parties from registering the Linda Mwananchi name for another person pending the determination of the case.

Kibwana’s latest move could therefore add another layer to the political and legal contest surrounding the Mwananchi identity ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Muungano Party, which was founded in 2007, has been led by Kibwana and has previously participated in national and county elections.

If the proposed name change is approved, the party would operate as The Mwananchi Party, potentially creating a new political vehicle as parties and leaders position themselves for the 2027 polls.

The development is expected to attract attention from political players as the competition for party identities and alliances continues to intensify ahead of the next General Election.

For now, the proposed name change remains subject to the required legal and administrative process, including consideration of any objections submitted to the Registrar of Political Parties.