UDA’s David Ndakwa Narrowly Defeats Seth Panyako to Clinch Malava MP Seat
Seth Panyako, a highly regarded political figure and trade unionist, was running under the ticket of the DAP-K party, affiliated with the Azimio coalition.
UDA's David Ndakwa receiving his certificate after winning. Photo/courtesy.
By Ruth Sang
David Athman Ndakwa of the United Democratic Alliance, UDA, has been declared the new Member of Parliament for Malava Constituency in a closely contested by-election held Thursday. The declaration was made by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, IEBC, after the tallying of all the results at the various polling stations.
Returning Officer Salim Abdalla Salim confirmed that Ndakwa won with 21,564 votes, securing a slight but decisive lead over his main challenger, Seth Panyako of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya. Panyako garnered 20,210 votes, falling just over a thousand votes behind Ndakwa in what emerged as one of the most competitive by-elections in the region in recent years.
Independent candidate Wilberforce Indai of the Kenya Moja party came a distant third after managing 626 votes, while other candidates fell even further behind, making the contest in essence a two-horse race between UDA and DAP-K.
The by-election attracted 43,675 voters out of the 94,417 registered electorates within Malava Constituency. This translates to a 46.2 percent voter turnout, a figure that the IEBC noted was fairly encouraging for a mid-term by-election. Voting took place across 198 polling stations, and the results from all the stations were confirmed and declared final on Thursday evening.
The contest was triggered following a vacancy in the seat, prompting political parties to mount spirited campaigns across Malava. Ndakwa, who ran on a platform promising improved development, youth empowerment, and strengthened representation, managed to mobilize strong grassroots support, particularly in rural wards. His victory reinforces UDA’s growing influence in Kakamega County, a region historically considered an opposition stronghold.
On the other hand, Seth Panyako, a highly regarded political figure and trade unionist, was running under the ticket of the DAP-K party, affiliated with the Azimio coalition. While he came second, Panyako’s performance largely expressed the stiff political competition witnessed in the area and changing trends among Malava voters.
After the declaration, IEBC officials praised the residents for ensuring peace prevailed from the onset of voting to the tallying process. Observers also noted that the election went on well, with only minor logistical delays reported in a few polling stations. Ndakwa is now expected to be sworn into office as the Malava MP, where he will take over constituency responsibilities and begin fulfilling the promises he made during the campaign. This victory opens a new political chapter for Malava, with many residents hoping the new leadership will steer the area toward increased progress and development.
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