Democratic Action Party (DAP) leader Eugene Wamalwa is now set to team up with Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale in drumming up support for Kenya National Union of Nurses Chair (KNUN) Seth Panyako in Malava ahead of the by-election slated for November 27.

Both leaders, despite being on different political divides, will on Saturday, October 4, 2025, attend a bullfighting event at Mahira Grounds in Malava, an event specifically organised to bring people together to watch and be entertained by the sport that has long been cherished by the people of Kakamega.

They will then use that platform to popularise Panyako’s bid.

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya, who has been calling on Malava residents to rally behind Panyako, will also attend the high-level event.

Khalwale endorsing Panyako

This comes days after Boni Khalwale, who had maintained a low profile in the Malava by-election race, came out to throw his weight behind DAP-K’s candidate, despite being a member of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and serving as the Senate Majority Whip.

 He opted to support Panyako over his party’s candidate, David Ndakwa, who had won in the party primaries.

According to Khalwale, since the Malava by-election has attracted a lot of external forces with imposed leaders, he decided to support Seth Panyako, who he says represents a genuine cause.

He also urged the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) to withdraw their candidate from the race to give Seth Panyako an easy run and avoid splitting votes.

“I am supporting Seth Panyako for Malava MP because he represents the genuine interests of our people. I urge the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) to back him and avoid splitting the vote. Malava must choose its leader without external interference,” Khalwale said.

This development also comes just days after he also met Ryan Injendi, the son of the late Malulu Injendi, who was defeated in the UDA by-election.

Khalwale’s past role in Malava

Khalwale has in the past played a key role in Malava politics. In 2022, as a pioneer of the UDA Party from Kakamega County, he tried to unite with the late Malulu Injendi, who had a bitter tussle with Seth Panyako, then a UDA member, and Malulu was a member of Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC.

During a public function, Khalwale requested the two to shake hands to end their feud, reminding them that although they were in different parties, they were all under one coalition.

However, Panyako refused to shake Malulu’s hand and walked away from the podium.

Meanwhile, Seth Panyako was recently given a direct nomination ticket by the party leader at Chui House in Nairobi.

He expressed confidence in his candidature, stating that opinion polls showed he was leading with a double-digit margin in the by-election race.