United Opposition candidate Seth Panyako now claims that President William Ruto’s administration attempted to lure him with a Cabinet Secretary position just days after he lost the Malava by-election.
Speaking on Radio Maisha Wednesday, December 3, Panyako said the alleged offer came on November 28, describing it as an insult to voters who endured violence and intimidation during the campaigns. He said he rejected the overture because it went against the principles of his campaign and the sacrifices his supporters made.
According to Panyako, the government’s approach represented “the highest level of inhumanity” and signaled that “sycophants” were running the country.
“Shamelessly, on the 28th they are telling me that they want to make me a Cabinet Secretary. Did I go for an election to be a minister? This is the highest level of inhumanity; in fact, it appears like we are being led by sycophants,” Panyako claimed.
The DAP-K candidate stressed that he did not seek elective office to receive a ministerial reward and insisted that accepting such an offer would betray the people of Malava and Kabras who stood by him.
Panyako added that this was not the first time the Kenya Kwanza administration approached him. He alleged that shortly after the 2022 General Election, officials asked him to accept a Principal Secretary post, but he declined, saying he already had employment and preferred that the opportunity go to someone else. At the time, he was still a UDA member and had actively campaigned for President Ruto.
He further revealed that his supporters firmly rejected any possibility of him joining the government once word of the alleged CS offer began circulating.
“Since they began the stories of appointing me as a CS, many have messaged me and the people of Kabras have told me ‘do not dare join that bloody government,’” Panyako alleged.
Panyako accused President Ruto of campaigning against him in the Malava by-election due to his uncompromising stance on key policy issues. He said his agenda threatened the government’s narrative, particularly his criticism of the abolition of the Linda Mama maternal health programme and what he termed reckless reforms in the education sector.
He argued that entering Parliament with such a message would have created political problems for the administration.
The Malava contest ended with UDA candidate David Ndakwa winning with 21,564 votes, while Panyako secured 20,210. Panyako insists his narrow loss, followed by the alleged job offer, reflects a broader intolerance for dissent.
He maintains that his advocacy on women’s health and education placed him on a collision course with the government and vowed to continue speaking out even outside Parliament.
The post Panyako: Govt Tried to Bribe Me With Cabinet Position After Malava By-Election appeared first on Bossnana.
