Bigwigs descend on Malava as party by-election lineups form
By Mukalo Kwayera, July 28, 2025Political temperatures are soaring in Malava constituency as parties intensify campaigns for the upcoming by-election to replace the late MP Malulu Injendi, who died in February 2025.
The race gained momentum at the weekend when Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya arrived with his Democratic Alliance Party of Kenya (DAP-K) team to campaign for Seth Panyako, the outspoken secretary-general of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN).
Natembeya’s visit was the latest in a series of high-profile political pilgrimages to Malava since Malulu’s death.
The political stakes escalated two weeks ago when lawyer Edgar Busiega Mwanga defected to the Democratic Citizens Party (DCP) of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Defection ceremony
A day after Busiega’s defection ceremony in Nairobi, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi headed to Malava to counter the unexpected move.
He dismissed the lawyer’s decision as misguided and a journey into nothingness, arguing that Gachagua was ineligible for public office following his Senate impeachment in October last year.
Mudavadi, who has assumed command of the Kenya Kwanza campaign onslaught, urged Malava voters to choose a credible, visionary leader who embodies integrity and unity.
He warned residents against being swayed by sweet words from political neophytes and established tricksters.
Before Mudavadi’s intervention, Kenya Kwanza campaigns were led by Higher Education Principal Secretary Dr Beatrice Inyangala, a constituency native, and President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet.
DCP secretary-general and former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah quickly responded, arriving in Malava the day after Mudavadi’s visit.
Malalah accused Mudavadi of neglecting the Mulembe Nation during his three decades in public service, making additional appearances to reinforce his criticism of Mudavadi’s leadership.
Mudavadi meets clan leaders
Last Tuesday, Mudavadi hosted provincial administrators from Western Kenya, led by Regional Commissioner Irungu Machatia Malava, at his Railways Headquarters offices to discuss development and security matters.
Two days later, he convened a crucial meeting with over 100 clan chairpersons and elders from the 29 clans of the Kabras sub-tribe, Malava’s dominant community.
“Until you elect a new Member of Parliament, I stand as your patron in Malava,” Mudavadi told the gathering.
“We must move forward together, build on the strong foundation left by our late brother Hon Malulu Injendi, and ensure that the development agenda remains on course.”
He announced plans for broader stakeholder consultations involving youth, women, scholars, farmers, business leaders, and religious groups, emphasising that inclusive dialogue is essential for Malava’s future.
Using a local proverb, Mudavadi cautioned against poor electoral choices: “Do not let temporary excitement blind you. If you sell your father’s land to buy a trumpet, where will you stand to blow it?” he posed, drawing laughter and applause from the audience.
While acknowledging the cultural importance of clans, he warned against allowing traditional affiliations to dictate electoral decisions: “Clans are vital to our heritage and identity – we respect that deeply. But let us not weaponise our traditions during elections or allow them to mislead us into choosing the wrong leaders.”
Key projects
The clan elders presented Mudavadi with a memorandum outlining key development projects, including completing the Malava-Ikoli and Malava-Samitsi roads, advancing the Namanja and Sikhuyu water projects, building student hostels at Shamberere National Polytechnic, finishing Malava Medical Training College, and operationalising Kabras West sub-county headquarters.
The elders also requested gazetting and staffing of newly created administrative units in East Kabras and West Kabras, including Chesero and Shivanga divisions, Nguvuli location, and various sub-locations.
Two days after Mudavadi’s Nairobi consultation, Natembeya brought his DAP-K team to Malava to promote Panyako’s candidacy.
The KNUN leader, who finished second to Malulu in 2022, has remained politically active since the former MP’s death.
Panyako’s party hopping
Panyako’s party affiliations have been notably fluid. He initially announced his intention to contest on a UDA ticket, then switched to DAP-K before joining Ford Kenya under National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, who even accompanied him on an early campaign tour.
Days later, Panyako moved to the United Democratic Party (UDP) of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo, only to distance himself from that outfit and return to DAP-K two weeks ago.
During Saturday’s Malava visit, Natembeya criticised both Mudavadi and Wetangula’s leadership, claiming they lack genuine commitment to Luhya community interests and urging voters to support Panyako.
The Malava by-election has attracted over 30 aspirants, though only four have secured party tickets: Busiega (DCP), Panyako (DAP-K), Caleb Sunguti (Roots Party), and Samuel Wesukari (UDP).
Four candidates are competing for the UDA ticket: Ryan Injendi (Malulu’s son), retired Bungoma High School Principal Dr Enock Andanje, Kivaywa High School Principal Simon Kagwana, and West Kabras MCA David Ndakwa.