Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has been unveiled as the new leader and presidential candidate of The Equitable Party (TEP), formally giving his political ambitions for the 2027 General Election a new vehicle.
Sifuna was handed the leadership of the party during its launch in Nairobi on Sunday, October 4, 2026, as TEP’s founding officials announced a restructuring intended to accommodate his political movement and supporters. The party was registered on March 25, 2022, and its leadership says it was established around inclusive governance and equitable distribution of national resources.
Taking the stage as the new party leader, Sifuna promised to approach the responsibility with integrity and political discipline.
“I want to assure you that I will not let you down,” Sifuna said.
A new political vehicle
The takeover marks a significant shift for Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi Movement, which has been searching for a political vehicle ahead of the 2027 election.
TEP’s outgoing leadership said it had decided to restructure the party to accommodate Sifuna and his supporters while retaining its founding members. Party officials presented the arrangement as an opportunity to build a broader national political organisation.
Sifuna, however, indicated that The Equitable Party name may not be permanent. He said his team intends to pursue a rebranding of TEP to the Linda Mwananchi Movement, following a ruling that cleared the way for the movement to reserve that name. If the rebranding encounters further obstacles, he said the group would proceed under the Equitable Party banner.
Sifuna promises a different style of politics
In his address, Sifuna called for greater public participation in politics, arguing that citizens should play an active role in shaping government rather than simply listening to politicians during campaigns.
He said the new party would emphasise ideas, programmes, accountability and service, while giving young people and women a greater role in political decision-making. He also said the party would promote constitutionalism, the rule of law and national unity.
Sifuna also addressed economic concerns affecting ordinary Kenyans, pointing to challenges facing farmers, young people, small businesses and families struggling with the cost of education and healthcare.
Raila’s legacy remains central
The launch also carried a strong connection to the political legacy of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Sifuna described Raila as an icon and liberation hero and said the political journey associated with him remained unfinished. He told supporters that they would continue pursuing what he described as the “promised land.”
Several political figures attended the launch, including Siaya Governor James Orengo, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. Their presence reflected the wider political networks surrounding the new formation.
Looking towards 2027
Sifuna’s elevation puts him formally on a presidential path ahead of the 2027 General Election. The new party now faces the task of transforming the launch into a functioning national organisation, establishing structures across the country and defining its policies in greater detail.
For Sifuna, the immediate message is clear: he intends to build a political movement centred on what he describes as equity, accountability and citizen participation.
Whether The Equitable Party remains its final political identity or becomes Linda Mwananchi Movement, Sunday’s launch marked the beginning of a new chapter in Sifuna’s political career and another development in Kenya’s increasingly active preparations for the 2027 ctions.
