Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) leader Eugene Wamalwa has called on Opposition supporters to rally behind Seth Panyako in the Malava by-election, saying the joint endorsement mirrors the unity strategy applied in the Mbeere contest.

“I urge all our party members as well as our coalition partners to throw their weight behind Hon. Panyako as the United Opposition’s joint candidate in the Malava by-election,” Wamalwa said during a National Management Committee meeting at DAP-K headquarters on Friday, September 19, 2025.

The meeting reviewed reports from the National Elections Board (NEB), including a scientific poll that placed Panyako ahead of other contenders. Wamalwa said the findings strengthened the decision to hand him the nomination certificate.

Elsewhere, goons stormed a press briefing by the DAP-K disgruntled Malava Parliamentary aspirant Caleb Burudi.

“The polling report confirmed that Seth Panyako has a commanding two-digit lead over all his competitors,” he stated, adding that the coalition would use consensus to build on this advantage.

He pointed to the Mbeere by-election as an example of how the Opposition can secure victory by avoiding internal competition. “In Mbeere, we identified our joint candidate through a similar process. That unity was our most lethal weapon, and we must replicate it in Malava,” he said.

This comes after DAP-K supporters rejected DCP’s deputy party leader Cleophas Malala’s call to withdraw the Malava by-election candidate.

Alongside Panyako, the party unveiled other candidates across the country. Among them was Isaiah Ayaya, a boda boda operator seeking the Kisa East ward seat in Khwisero constituency. Wamalwa said his nomination reflects the coalition’s commitment to grassroots representation.

Ayaya, on his part, promised to mobilise young people to register and vote. “I will ensure all Gen Zs come out in large numbers to guarantee victory for our team,” he said.

Wamalwa emphasised that diversity within the coalition’s candidates should not distract from its central strategy of presenting a united front. “Our unity remains the most lethal weapon in the WANTAM arsenal,” he said, underscoring his appeal for joint campaign efforts in Malava.

The by-election is expected to be a high-stakes contest, with Panyako now formally unveiled as the Opposition’s choice. Coalition leaders say the focus will be on turning the unity displayed in Nairobi into votes on the ground in Kakamega.