By DALCY LULUA
NEWLY elected Member of Parliament for Dei District in Western Highlands Province, Desmond Paul Kipa, has issued a clarification regarding his political position following public speculation about his possible party affiliation.
The speculation followed the attendance of a senior minister, who is also a political party leader, at Mr Kipa’s official swearing-in ceremony last week, which led to public discussion concerning the new Member’s political alignment.
In response, Mr Kipa stated that he has not joined any political party and will continue to serve as an Independent Member of Parliament. He emphasised that he contested and won the Dei District seat as an Independent candidate and intends to remain independent until appropriate consultations are conducted with his constituents.
“I ran as an Independent candidate and I will remain independent. I represent the people of Dei District, not my personal interests. In due course, and following proper consultation, I will return to my village to engage with my people and consider their views before making any decision regarding political party affiliation, if any,” Mr Kipa said.
Mr Kipa further stressed that any political decision he makes will be guided strictly by the collective wishes and best interests of the people of Dei District. He added that the presence of senior leaders at official or ceremonial events should not be misconstrued as an indication of political commitment or alignment.
He noted that maintaining his Independent status at this stage will enable him to prioritise unity, stability, and key development objectives for the district.
Mr Kipa’s consultative and people-centred approach is expected to attract close attention as parliamentary alignments continue to evolve.