Cleophas Malala, Deputy Party Leader of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP), has criticised Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi for what he called a “poor display of leadership” during the death of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Malava by-election aspirant, Enock Adanje.

Speaking on a local radio morning show on Monday, August 18, 2025, Malala expressed shock at how the situation was handled when Adanje collapsed at a widows’ empowerment forum in Malava last Friday.

“Nigependa kuangazia, na kuuliza wale viongozi wa UDA, kidogo walituonyesha uongozi mbaya wakati kifo cha mweshimiwa Andanje kilikuwa kinafanyika,” Malala said.

He explained that Adanje suffered what appeared to be a heart attack while arriving at the event, and that immediate first aid or rapid hospital care could have saved him.

Malala criticised the decision to allow Adanje to travel in his vehicle along poor roads to seek medical attention in Kakamega, despite the presence of two choppers at the venue.

“Mbona hawakumuweka ndani ya chopper wamwinue haraka wampeleke hospitali,” he questioned, pointing out that Mudavadi was at the event with two helicopters that could have been used to get Adanje to the hospital faster.

Concerns over event response

He also condemned what he described as insensitivity by party leaders during the tragedy.

“Walikuwa na functions mbili, aspirant wako amefaint, ameenda na gari yake akimepelekwa hospitali, ameaga dunia. Wewe, badala ata ucancel zile biashara zako zingine, unatoka kwa hii function, tena unaenda na hizo chopper mbili… unaenda kwa the next function, unatangaza kifo chake… How insensitive are you?” Malala said.

Adanje, a former principal of Bungoma High School, had taken early retirement to contest the Malava by-election, which was called following the death of the previous office holder, Malulu Injendi. He collapsed at the forum attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi, and attempts to resuscitate him on the spot failed. He was rushed to Oasis Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.