Narc Kenya has initiated the legal process to change its name with the outfit set to be known as the People’s Liberation Party (PLP).
The latest move takes the battle for the country's Gen Z voters a notch higher with the population expected to form the bulk of 2027 voters in Kenya.
Statistics from the Kenya National Council for Population and Development showed in 2019 census that 75.1 per cent of Kenya's population was under the age of 35.
This represents 35.7 million people; or three out of four people being below the age of 35 with the youth calling for political and economic liberation.
With prospective presidential candidates aligning with the young people, the fight for this crucial voting bloc is headed down to the wire as the country heads closer to 2027.
Narc Kenya's name change is one of the four sweeping changes embraced by Martha Karua's Narc Kenya as it moves to enhance its public appeal ahead of the 2027 polls.
The move also concludes the formal steps by Narc Kenya to chart its cause after exiting the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition and affirms Karua's 2027 presidential ambitions.
In a legal notice by the Registrar to Political Parties, Narc Kenya also seeks to change its party symbol, official colours, and slogan.
“In exercise of the power conferred by section 20 (1) (d) of the Political Parties Act (Cap. 7D), the Registrar of Political Parties gives notice that National Rainbow Coalition-Kenya (NARC-Kenya) intends to change as follows: change of party name, change of party slogan, change of party colours,” the notice read in part.
If there are no objections, Narc Kenya will have new corporate colours that will drop the signature of luminous, red, and white to lilac, white, and purple.
In a strategic move to align with the emerging clamour for change gathering storm in the country, Narc Kenya will have a new party symbol.
In the rebranding the party’s symbol would change to a purple rose from a rose flower.
The changes would also see the party rewrite its slogan to 'Unite', and 'Liberate' from 'One Kenya', 'One Nation', and 'One People.'
In November, Karua hinted at the rebranding of Narc Kenya, disclosing plans to change the name and embrace generational change in its leadership.
The developments signal Karua's plans to woo the young generation that recently mounted significant resistance against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Karua had said the party would sponsor radical constitutional amendments to introduce term limits for its top leadership.
She said the changes would bring a progressive culture and mindset to the party that was first registered in 2012.
"The party delegates have permitted us to amend our party constitution. We wish to be the first party in Kenya to have term limits for the top leadership of the party. This means that in the next party elections, I will not be eligible to contest," Karua revealed in November.
NARC-Kenya’s latest rebrand comes after the party's delegates approved the exit from the Azimio coalition months ago.
