Seth Panyako, the Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP–K) candidate in the closely watched Malava parliamentary by-election, was overcome with emotion on Thursday morning, weeping publicly at a polling station and alleging a violent, state-sponsored attempt on his life. The incident occurred at St. Joseph's Lunyu K Primary School on Thursday, November 27, 2025, moments before he cast his vote, amplifying the already tense atmosphere of the high-stakes election.

Panyako claimed that on Wednesday night, "government-sponsored criminals" attacked the hotel where he and his wife were staying with the intent to assassinate them. He asserted that his driver was seriously injured during the assault and was receiving treatment at Webuye Hospital. "The government machinery, together with criminals, attacked my hotel, and the aim of the attack was to assassinate my wife and me," Panyako stated to the press after voting. Visibly distressed and flanked by DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Panyako alleged the attack was a direct result of pre-election polls indicating he was leading his main rival, David Ndakwa of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). "The only option that is there for the government candidate to win this election is to assassinate me," he claimed.

A High-Stakes Political Contest

The Malava by-election, necessitated by the death of Member of Parliament Malulu Injendi on February 17, 2025, has evolved into a significant political battleground. The race is widely viewed as a litmus test for the ruling UDA party's influence in the Western Kenya region, a traditional opposition stronghold, and a measure of the unity within the opposition. The contest has been framed as a two-horse race between Panyako, a vocal government critic and Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN), and Ndakwa, the former minority leader in the Kakamega County Assembly.

The national significance of the poll has been underscored by the heavy involvement of senior political figures. President William Ruto's influential aide, Farouk Kibet, has been a prominent figure in Ndakwa's campaign, while Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula have also campaigned for the UDA candidate. On the opposition side, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa has been a constant presence, supporting Panyako.

A History of Shifting Alliances

Seth Panyako is a familiar, and often controversial, figure in Kenyan public life. A nurse by profession, he has served as the Secretary-General of KNUN since 2013, leading numerous clashes with the government over nurses' welfare. His political journey has seen notable shifts. In the 2022 general election, he contested the Malava seat on a UDA ticket but lost to the late Injendi. He later fell out with the UDA, resigning as its Deputy Chairperson in May 2023 and accusing the party of sidelining him and reneging on promises. His subsequent alignment with the opposition DAP-K, part of the Azimio la Umoja coalition, set the stage for this fierce electoral contest against his former party.

Allegations of Intimidation and Electoral Malpractice

The emotional scene at the polling station was the culmination of days of escalating tension. Panyako had previously held a press conference on Tuesday, November 25, where he accused state actors of intimidation, harassment, and attempting to rig the election. He claimed that pre-marked ballot papers had been brought into the constituency and that his supporters were being threatened. Following the alleged attack, Wamalwa condemned the violence and called on the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to disqualify the UDA candidate over the claims of voter intimidation. As of Thursday afternoon, police had not issued a formal statement on the alleged incident. The by-election has been marred by other incidents, including the beating of a man by residents on Wednesday night after he was accused of attempting to bribe voters. The outcome of the Malava poll is expected to have significant political reverberations, impacting the strategic calculations of both the government and the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election.