Why Edwin Sifuna blocked live media coverage of LMM NDC

Linda Mwananchi Movement has barred the media for covering it's NDC function.

The move was reached at by the Party to avoid public scrutiny amidst several legal challenges facing the Sifuna-led Party.

It wasn't presented by Sifuna himself as a "block" — it was announced by his team as a closed-door decision.

What the party said:

On Thursday, Nov 12, LMM Head of Communication Pauline Njoroge told journalists: "Kindly note that tomorrow's NDC will be a closed-door meeting, with no media coverage"

The party described the Friday, Nov 13 NDC as a statutory / internal meeting to fulfil legal requirements for its transition from The Equitable Party (TEP) to Linda Mwananchi Movement (LMM).

Attendance was restricted to designated delegates drawn from members who were registered under TEP by the time the NDC notice was issued

The venue was also not disclosed publicly.

Key Details of the NDC Event

Approve the proposed name change, ratify other resolutions to complete the transition, and formalise the proposed leadership unveiled on Oct 30 — Sifuna as proposed party leader, with Kawira Mwangaza, Faith Odhiambo and Patrick Makau as proposed deputies.

Why critics say the timing matters:

The closed-door decision came a day after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) dismissed a petition seeking to stop the NDC. 

That petition, and a second one, had challenged:

1. Alleged unprocedural appointments and irregular rebranding

2. Whether grassroots elections had been held to pick legitimate delegates.

3. Sifuna's eligibility, with claims he had not formally resigned from ODM

The tribunal allowed the NDC to proceed but said the main dispute would still be heard in full. 

The party also assured the tribunal that no elections would be conducted at the conference. 

Why it's unusual:

Reports noted this breaks from recent practice — NDCs by ODM, UDA and Wiper have typically been held in front of cameras. 

So the official reason is: internal statutory meeting, delegates-only. The political reading from opponents and commentators is: to limit public scrutiny while the leadership and rebrand are still under legal challenge.

There is no detailed personal explanation from Sifuna himself about the media ban was published in those reports.