The upcoming Malava parliamentary by-election has escalated into a high-stakes political war, pitting top allies of President William Ruto against influential Western Kenya leaders who are demanding tangible development in return for their unwavering electoral support.
The contest to replace the late MP Malulu Injendi has seen the ruling UDA party settle on Kakamega County Assembly Minority Leader, David Ndakwa, as its flagbearer. However, his candidacy has been overshadowed by a fierce confrontation between the government and local power brokers, most notably Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.
The political atmosphere has been charged with visits from high-ranking government officials, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and President Ruto’s Personal Assistant, Farouk Kibet.
While campaigning for the UDA candidate, they issued stern warnings against Senator Khalwale, accusing him of disloyalty for backing a rival and even threatening to engineer his removal from the UDA party.
In response, a defiant Senator Khalwale has framed the battle as a matter of respect for the region’s kingmakers. He and his allies have sent a clear message to State House stating that the development owed to Western Kenya is not a favor for a single by-election, but a dividend for the massive votes that propelled President Ruto to power.
The Senator has now again issued a stark warning, reminding the President that when the political climate hardens in the 2027 general elections, his success in the vote-rich region will depend on listening to those with genuine influence on the ground.
“You will need a Khalwale in Kakamega and a Panyako in Malava to prevail,” Khwalwale.
According to Khwalwale, local loyalties, not directives from Nairobi, will ultimately determine electoral fortunes.
The by-election has also rekindled old political rivalries. Mudavadi is now spearheading the UDA candidate’s campaign against Khalwale who supported his 2013 presidential bid, running for the Kakamega senatorial seat on Mudavadi’s United Democratic Forum (UDF) party ticket and winning.
Cleophas Malala, now deputy leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), is fronting his own candidate, Edgar Busiega, setting the stage for a personal grudge match on familiar terrain.
Further complicating the landscape, Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has opted for a cautious neutrality, despite his DAP-K party fielding the formidable Seth Panyako. This move is seen as an attempt to avoid an open clash with his boss, Governor Fernandes Barasa, highlighting the delicate balancing act local leaders are performing amid the intense pressure from national figures.
As the November poll date approaches, the Malava by-election is no longer just about who will become the next MP; it has become a critical referendum on loyalty, the value of political support, and a high-stakes preview of the battles to come in 2027.
