Frequent visits by President William Ruto’s Private Secretary Farouk Kibet in Malava constituency since the death of area Member of Parliament Malulu Injendi are causing ripples, with residents accusing him of scheming to impose a candidate on the electorate.

Farouk was a close friend of the immediate former Malava MP who passed away on February 17 this year after a short illness.

He has been traversing the constituency since Malulu’s demise to gauge political temperatures in the area as voters await a nod from the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for them to pick their next parliamentary representative.

Thanksgiving

In his fourth visit since Malulu’s demise, Farouk was lastly in Malava three weeks ago for an interdenominational thanksgiving ceremony at Kimang’eti.

Unlike in his previous visits, at the Kimang’eti function, Farouk was accompanied by leaders from Kakamega County and Governor of Bungoma Ken Lusaka.

In an earlier visit in April, Farouk took a scathing attack on Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, whom he referred to in very derogatory terms as he accused him of meddling in Malava politics, a constituency that is not in his county.

Foreigner in Kabras

Farouk’s pop-in, pop-out visitations have, however, triggered outrage in the constituency where residents are questioning his role in the by-election given that he too does not hail from Malava or even Kakamega county as he is a resident of Uasin Gishu county and is not known to hold any official position in any political party or Government post.

Farouk’s forays in Malava could cost UDA in the constituency as voters there vow to vote against whover the party settles on as he or she will be Farouk’s “project”  The impending by-election has attracted more than 30 aspirants.

Front-runners so far are management consultant and former Kenya School of Government lecturer Caleb Sunguti,  the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) secretary-general Seth Panyako, Senior Assistant Inspector General (SAIG) of Police Nelson Shilunji Taliti, former Malava High School Principal Daniel Mwachi, lawyer Edgar Busiega and Malulu’s son, Ryan Injendi.

Other candidates are Lewis Shitanda, Kivaywa High School Principal Simon Kangwana, former Nominated Senator Naomi  Shiyonga, activist Caleb Burudi, Dr. Enock Andanje, security expert Dr.Enock Makanga, Benjamin Nalwa,, former Nominated MCA Lazarus Lucheveleli, Samuel Tsimbwela Wesukari, Michael Murambi Angatia and Dr Wanangwe Kulecho

So far, Sunguti is the only aspirant who has secured a ticket to run on the banner of the Roots Party headed by lawyer George Oluchiri Wajackoya has in the past leaned towards the politics of Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. As a Presidential candidate in 2013, the constituency gave Mudavadi the highest number of votes in Kenya.