What began as a routine mini-poll has quickly grown into a heated political battle, attracting national attention and exposing deep rivalry between government and opposition forces.
The race was triggered by the passing of MP Malulu Injendi, and since then, two dominant candidates have emerged: David Ndakwa of UDA and Seth Panyako of DAP-K. Both men have spent weeks moving across Malava’s seven wards, rallying supporters and fine-tuning their messages as the campaign window comes to an end.
Ndakwa, a former minority leader in the Kakamega county assembly, has structured his campaign around continuity and development. Drawing from his two terms as the MCA for West Kabras, he describes himself as a tested leader who understands the needs of Malava residents.
In every ward he visits—from Butali to Manda-Shivanga—Ndakwa highlights his experience, telling locals that the constituency has benefitted most when its MPs were aligned with the national government.
His message has been boosted by an unusually strong show of support from top Kenya Kwanza leaders. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya have all joined his campaign trail. Their appearances reflect how seriously the coalition is treating the by-election.
Standing out among them is Farouk Kibet, a close aide to President William Ruto. Farouk has turned into one of Ndakwa’s most influential assets, camping in Malava immediately after the UDA primaries. He has led early-morning and late-evening tours, building local networks and pushing a unified message about stability and development. His hands-on involvement has given the UDA team renewed structure and confidence.
In one of his dawn rallies at Lukova in Manda-Shivanga, Farouk urged residents to honour the memory of the late Injendi by choosing a candidate who can maintain momentum. Later in the day at Chemuche, he stood alongside MPs Innocent Mugabe and Benjamin Washiali, calling Ndakwa the safer and more dependable choice.
By afternoon, he joined senior leaders in South Kabras for a large rally that brought together thousands of supporters. His final activity that day—commissioning a floodlight at Chegulo Market—was seen by residents as a direct sign of the national government’s goodwill toward the constituency.
On the other side, Seth Panyako has embraced a contrasting strategy. Branding himself as “the people’s candidate,” he has centred his campaign on resisting government pressure and restoring political independence to Malava. He argues that electing an opposition MP would help check national power rather than reinforce it.
Panyako accuses the government of failing on the economy, agriculture, and service delivery. His criticism has struck a chord with many youth and frustrated residents who feel national promises have not reached the grassroots.
To strengthen his campaign, he has drawn support from several opposition figures, among them Eugene Wamalwa, George Natembeya and Rigathi Gachagua. Together, they frame Ndakwa not as an independent leader but as a candidate tightly woven into government interests.
Their joint messaging seeks to challenge the government’s development narrative by insisting that Malava must not be swayed by state influence. They portray the by-election as an opportunity for residents to send a signal about the nation’s political direction.
With the final campaign day closing, Malava is bracing for a tense and closely fought vote. All seven wards—Kabras North, West Kabras, Chemuche, Butali, Manda-Shivanga, South Kabras and Shirugu-Mugai—are experiencing high activity as both camps push for last-minute support.
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