NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has taken over the leadership of The Equitable Party (TEP), giving his 2027 presidential bid a formal political vehicle after weeks of uncertainty over the party he would use to contest the presidency.
Sifuna was unveiled as the party’s interim leader and presidential candidate during a ceremony in Nairobi on Sunday, where TEP announced a restructuring that will retain its founding members while bringing in leaders aligned with its political platform.
The development follows the Linda Mwananchi Movement’s decision last month to endorse Sifuna as its presidential candidate and give him the lead role in determining the political party through which he would contest the 2027 election.
TEP’s leadership said the restructuring was intended to preserve the party’s existing foundation while opening it to additional political leaders and formations.
Outgoing national chairman Kerry Karani welcomed Sifuna and his allies into the party, saying the founding members were prepared to work with the new leadership.
“We are welcoming you and the rest of the team with open arms,” Karani said.
TEP leader Gilbert Marava said the party had decided to restructure after preparing for the 2027 election and considering possible partnerships with other political formations.
He said the party’s founding membership would remain in place while other like-minded leaders were brought into the organisation.
“On our end, we have decided to restructure,” Marava said.
He said the party’s new leadership would have to combine political leadership with technical expertise as it prepares for the election.
“A great leader is a leader who knows when to lead and when to be led. We cannot be leaders at the same time,” Marava said.
He subsequently announced Sifuna as the party’s incoming leader and presidential candidate.
“My brother is going to run for president. He’s going to be the next leader of the Equitable Party,” Marava said.
The move gives Sifuna a registered political party through which to organise his presidential campaign.
The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties records The Equitable Party as a fully registered political party, with its certificate issued on March 25, 2022. The party is headquartered in Nairobi and uses the slogan “Tusawazishe”.
TEP has said its political objective is to promote inclusive governance and equitable distribution of national resources.
Its founder, Dr Eunice Juma, and other founding officials attended the Nairobi ceremony, alongside political leaders and supporters associated with the Linda Mwananchi Movement.
The restructuring marks a significant change for a party that had been preparing for the 2027 election while exploring possible alliances.
Sifuna’s move to TEP comes less than two weeks after Linda Mwananchi leaders formally settled on him as their presidential candidate.
The movement announced on September 27 that Sifuna would lead the unveiling of the party on whose ticket he would seek the presidency.
The choice of TEP follows earlier uncertainty over the political vehicle for the campaign.
In September, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya had said Sifuna would use the United Democratic Party, while other leaders subsequently said Sifuna would have the final say after several parties were considered.
The TEP announcement therefore settles, at least for now, the question of the party platform around which Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi Movement intend to organise his presidential campaign.
Sifuna’s new role is expected to put TEP at the centre of efforts to build a broader political alliance ahead of the August 10, 2027 General Election.
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The Linda Mwananchi Movement has said it intends to work with like-minded parties, meaning TEP’s restructuring could form part of a wider effort to bring different political groups under a common opposition platform.
The immediate challenge will be translating the new leadership arrangement into a broader party organisation and negotiating alliances with other political formations.
For now, the Nairobi ceremony marks the formal transition of TEP into the political vehicle for Sifuna’s presidential bid, with the party’s existing leadership and founding members remaining part of the restructured organisation.
