The controversy surrounding the nomination of Wiper Party members to the National Assembly took a new twist after the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) launched a probe into the matter.
Reports claimed that in a meeting that took place on July 22, Mombasa mogul, Abubakar Talib, was dropped and replaced with Makueni businessman, Lucas Mulinge Wambua.
DCI looked into whether minutes and documents from the meeting were forged to indicate that the event occurred after Talib filed the case at the High Court.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke on Thursday, November 17, Wiper Party secretary general, Shakila Abdalla, refuted reports claiming that the alleged meeting occurred.
Abdalla added a consultation panel was instead formed to determine the names of the individuals on the nomination list.
"The case is already in court, therefore, if there was any investigation to be carried out, it should have been before the case proceeding to court.
"However, DCI has a right to obtain any new information that may assist in determining the matter," Abdalla stated.
She held strongly that all required documents to support or dismiss the allegations were submitted in court and should be referred to in determining the case.
The nominated senator absolved the party from any wrongdoing and maintained that it operated within the confines of the election laws.
Earlier in October 2022, the DCI summoned five top Wiper officials, seeking clarity into the matter. However, in letters to the DCI, Wiper chairman Chirau Mwakwere, identified Talib as the validly nominated MP.
"I am not privy to any changes to the list, and Talib remains the one nominated by Wiper, I am not a party to any changes," Mwakwere stated.
In September 2022, High Court ruled that Talib was validly nominated as MP and ordered the IEBC to gazette his name to be sworn in together with other nominated and elected leaders.
Mulinge, after the ruling, argued that the judge erred in his findings. He also faulted the court for failing to find that Wiper's process of nominating him to the party list of July 2022 was conducted in a legal, free, fair, and lawful manner.
The politician moved to the Court of Appeal to challenge the High Court's decision to uphold Talib's nomination.
