In a heart-wrenching moment that has sparked widespread debate, Seth Panyako, a parliamentary aspirant in Malava, burst into tears while voting, claiming he was the target of a coordinated attack by hired thugs. This emotional scene unfolded on Thursday morning at St. Joseph’s Lunyu K Primary School, where Panyako, dressed in a white patterned shirt and visibly distressed, removed his glasses as tears streamed down his face. But here’s where it gets controversial—Panyako alleges the attack was part of a larger scheme to prevent him from participating in the by-election. Is this a genuine threat or a political tactic?
Accompanied by DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa and other officials, Panyako struggled to regain his composure before entering the polling room. Wamalwa stood by his side, offering comfort as aides in the background urged journalists to refrain from capturing the raw, emotional moment. Despite the turmoil, Panyako eventually cast his vote, though his arrival caused a brief commotion at the polling center.
The Malava by-election has become a high-stakes battle, widely seen as a critical test of the United Opposition Alliance’s strength in Kakamega County and a measure of unity within President William Ruto’s diverse government. The race pits UDA candidate David Ndakwa, former minority leader in the Kakamega County Assembly, against Panyako, a prominent united opposition figure. Both candidates have waged intense grassroots campaigns across the constituency’s wards, vying to fill the seat left vacant by the late MP Malulu Injendi.
And this is the part most people miss—two UDA aspirants from Malava who lost in the party primaries have been appointed to diplomatic roles in Uganda and South Africa. Simon Kangwana and Rhyan Injendi Malulu were named Education Attaché and Trade Attaché, respectively, in a move announced by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi. These appointments were part of a deal promising government positions to aspirants who backed Ndakwa, the ruling party’s candidate. Another aspirant, Leonard Shimaka, was appointed as a Commissioner at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) last month.
Does this raise questions about fairness in political appointments? The Malava by-election isn’t just a local contest—it’s a microcosm of Kenya’s broader political dynamics, where alliances, allegations, and ambitions collide. What’s your take? Do Panyako’s claims hold water, or are they a strategic move? And are these diplomatic appointments a reward for loyalty or a questionable use of power? Let’s discuss in the comments!