Savula set to join Panyako’s campaign after backing Ndakwa in UDA primaries
By Mabonga Makhanu, November 8, 2025Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has broken his silence on the Malava by-election race and has now decided to align himself with his party, the Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K), in support of its candidate, Seth Panyako.
This comes after days of silence, during which Savula was spotted campaigning for David Ndakwa in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) primaries. According to him, he did so to ensure that the candidate who was then being fronted by Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Leonard Shimaka, would be defeated in the primaries.
“Tupee watu glucose waende wapigie Ndakwa kura. Mimi Nina pesa kushinda Oparanya mbali sana. Oparanya ananishindia tu miaka. Ameleta candidate wake hapa anaitwa Shimaka; huyo tunaangusha leo, saa hii kura tunapatia Ndakwa.
“Mkitoka hapa tunapatia kila mtu kitu glucose na transport. Mkifika polling station mnasema Ndakwa, Ndakwa. Huyu candidate wa Oparanya lazima aanguke kura,” Savula said.
In what sounds like a comeback, after maintaining a low profile after the primaries, Savula, who also serves as the DAP-K deputy party leader, is now set to join the party’s campaign trail in Malava on Sunday, November 9, 2025.
The campaign will be spearheaded by Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, and Democratic for Citizens Party deputy leader Cleophas Malala. They are expected to make several stopovers in various markets to popularise Seth Panyako’s bid.
Barasa-ODM stand
This move by Savula appears to have taken a different route from that of his county boss, Governor Fernandes Barasa, who has publicly declared support for UDA’s candidate.
Barasa defended his decision, saying it was in the spirit of the broad-based government, explaining that if one party within the formation fronts a candidate, the rest should rally behind them to avoid a split in votes.
Earlier in the week, Barasa had joined President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, in popularising David Ndakwa’s bid to succeed the late Malava MP Malulu Injendi, who passed away earlier this year.
This latest move is seen as a major boost for Seth Panyako, as he has now gained new support from a key political figure in Kakamega County, alongside other local leaders who have agreed to back his bid.