Wiper Party Takes Issue with Registrar of Political Parties Over Delayed Gazettement

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka

The Wiper Democratic Movement has raised alarm over what it terms a politically driven delay by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) in the gazettement of leadership changes, particularly targeting its Deputy Party Leader, Hon. Farah Maalim.

In a statement dated Monday, October 7, Wiper alleges that the four-month delay has drawn unnecessary political attention to Maalim, who is currently facing disciplinary action within the party over remarks made targeting Gen Z protestors.

According to Wiper, the party notified the ORPP of changes to its leadership and office location in May 2024, but the Registrar only published the notice on October 4, 2024, well beyond the legal requirement of 14 days.

This delay, Wiper claims, has fueled a political storm around Maalim, whose position has been under scrutiny since a unanimous decision to de-whip him was made by the National Executive Council on July 10, 2024.

“The timing of the gazettement by the Registrar is not lost to us given the political climate. We firmly believe that it is ill-intentioned and motivated, leading to purposeful scrutiny by the mainstream and online media on the subject of Deputy Party Leader Hon. Farah Maalim and his standing in the party,” Wiper stated.

Dadaab Member of Parliament Farah Maalim

Maalim, a veteran politician and former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, has been at odds with the party leadership, facing disciplinary proceedings for failing to respond to multiple notices.

Wiper’s Disciplinary Committee has already issued two notices to show cause, which Maalim has yet to address, paving the way for his possible removal from the party pending ratification by a National Delegates Convention.

"The formal removal process, currently with the Party’s Disciplinary Committee, includes two notices sent to Hon. Maalim on August 20, 2024 and September 24, 2024. Hon. Maalim has failed to acknowledge or respond to both notices," the party noted.

Wiper leaders are calling the delay a deliberate obstruction, suggesting it was intended to undermine the party’s internal processes and stir controversy around Maalim.

“We strongly believe that this is not the usual bureaucratic negligence, but a deliberate, indeed intentional obstruction by the ORPP for reasons only known to them,” the statement added.

Wiper Party’s Secretary-General, Senator Shakila Abdalla has reaffirmed the party’s commitment to pursuing legal action.