Kipa elected as Dei MP

Independent Candidate Desmond Paul Kipa has been duly elected as the new Member of Parliament for Dei Open Electorate following a tense and closely contested by-election.

The declaration came after final elimination, which saw the exclusion of Tui Ekil with 22,722 votes.

After distribution of preferences, Desmond Paul Kipa secured 28,064 votes, while his closest rival, Sam Koim, polled 27,146 votes, a narrow margin of just 918 votes.

Kipa also surpassed the absolute majority mark of 27,606 votes required to claim victory under the Limited Preferential Voting system.

The final count brought an end to weeks of intense counting that saw lead changes and tight margins between the top candidates.

In his declaration speech, Kipa first acknowledged God for guiding him through what he described as a long and challenging political journey.

He thanked his supporters across Dei, his parents and family for their prayers and sacrifices, as well as counting officials, election officials, and security personnel for ensuring a peaceful and transparent process.

Kipa also made special mention of runner-up Sam Koim, commending him for putting up a strong challenge in what was his first time contesting the Dei seat.

Having contested the Dei Open seat for the past 20 years, Kipa said the victory was not just political but spiritual.

He dedicated the win to God and to the people of Dei District.

Kipa emphasized that he has no personal interest in politics, but is committed solely to serving the people and delivering much-needed development to the district.

At around 7pm, he officially signed the writs as the duly elected Member for Dei Open, witnessed by the Returning Officer and supporters gathered at the counting centre.

The declaration now paves the way for him to take his seat in Parliament as the new representative for the people of Dei for the next 14 months until the 2027 National General Elections.