Mumbuni North by-election: NLP accuses Wiper of ‘deceptive tactics’ amid fake withdrawal claims

The National Liberal Party (NLP) has sharply condemned the Wiper Democratic Movement for what it terms “malicious and deceptive” conduct in the Mumbuni North Ward by-election.

This follows an incident where Wiper leaders publicly paraded NLP’s candidate, Calweathers (Mutisya wa Ngai), and claimed he had withdrawn from the contest.

In a strongly worded statement, NLP Party Leader Augustus Muli dismissed the claims, insisting their candidate “remains on the ballot and has not resigned nor officially withdrawn his candidature.”

Muli accused the Kalonzo Musyoka-led Wiper party of attempting to manipulate the race through “backdoor political bribery and coercion.”

He said it was “unacceptable” for a party that demands national respect to “resort to dishonourable tactics instead of fair democratic competition,” adding that NLP would not be “bullied or treated as a junior passenger” in the country’s politics.

The party warned that Wiper’s behaviour raises broader questions about its credibility in future national coalitions.

“If they cannot honorably consult in a simple ward by-election, how should Kenyans trust them to honor coalition agreements in 2027?” said Muli.

NLP stated that its options remain open, including continuing to campaign or shifting support to another candidate “who respects multiparty democracy.”

The party emphasized it is still a legally recognized political entity and remains committed to clean politics and the protection of democratic institutions.