The upcoming Malava Constituency by-election has taken a new twist after the Democratic Congress Party (DCP) candidate, Edgar Busiega Mwanga, announced his withdrawal from the race to rally behind the opposition’s joint candidate.
In a statement released on Thursday, October 30, the Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) confirmed that Busiega had officially stepped down in favor of Seth Panyako, who will now represent the united opposition front in the November 27 by-election.
“Wakili Edgar Busiega Mwanga, who was vying for the Malava Constituency parliamentary seat on DCP, has officially stepped down and backed DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako. As the United Opposition, we now have one candidate in the upcoming by-election,” the statement read.
United Opposition Backs Panyako for Malava Seat
Panyako, a seasoned politician and trade unionist, received a direct nomination from DAP-K ahead of the by-election. His endorsement by multiple opposition parties marks a significant step toward consolidating support and preventing vote fragmentation in the race.
During the official handover ceremony held at Chui House in Nairobi on Thursday, September 18, DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa confirmed that the opposition coalition had agreed to field Panyako as their sole candidate.
“We will be sharing this report with the people of Malava today; we have no doubt that Seth Panyako is the sure bet. If anyone wants to defy the agreement of the joint opposition resolution, then the results will still be reflected on the ballot on November 27th,” said Wamalwa.
The decision aims to strengthen the opposition’s chances of reclaiming the Malava parliamentary seat by uniting various political forces against government-backed rivals.
Legal Challenge Over Eligibility
Before the handover, however, Caleb Burudi, one of the DAP-K aspirants, contested Panyako’s eligibility to run for the seat.
In a letter addressed to the National Elections Board Chairman on Monday, September 15, Burudi alleged that Panyako was still serving as a Board Member at the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFUND), which would make him legally ineligible to contest.
“It has come to our attention that his main challenger, one Seth Ambusini Panyako, is a public officer as a Board Member at the Local Authorities Provident Fund (Lapfund) and has not resigned to date, therefore ineligible to contest for the forthcoming by-elections scheduled for 27th November, 2025,” the letter stated.
Burudi argued that DAP-K officials should not have cleared Panyako, insisting that his nomination violated Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) regulations.
“The IEBC, through Gazette Notice Number 11158 of August 8, 2025, declared the vacancy for Malava Constituency and gazetted November 27, 2025, as the by-election date. Therefore, Mr. Panyako was expected to have resigned on or before August 15, 2025, being seven days from the declaration of vacancy. However, he did not resign as required by law,” Burudi added.
He demanded that Panyako be disqualified from participating in the party primaries and warned that he would pursue legal action if the complaint was ignored.
Opposition Stands Firm Behind Panyako
Despite the controversy, DAP-K proceeded with Panyako’s nomination, and the candidate has since received widespread backing from the United Opposition, including DCP.
With Edgar Busiega Mwanga’s withdrawal, Panyako now stands as the sole opposition candidate for the Malava parliamentary seat, setting the stage for a highly anticipated political showdown on November 27, 2025.
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