In a significant political realignment less than three weeks before the Malava constituency by-election, Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) Deputy Party Leader Ayub Savula has endorsed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, David Ndakwa. The move, confirmed on Monday, November 10, 2025, underscores escalating internal divisions within DAP-K and creates a complex political landscape in Kakamega County.

Savula, who also serves as the Kakamega County Deputy Governor, attributed his decision to growing infighting within his own party, which is part of the Azimio la Umoja coalition. He stated that wrangles between Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and fellow Deputy Party Leader George Natembeya have made it untenable to campaign effectively for the DAP-K candidate, Seth Panyako. “The wrangles between our party leadership have made it difficult to conduct harmonious campaigns. Eugene Wamalwa and his deputy George Natembeya are holding separate rallies in different parts of the constituency, which projects disunity and confuses voters,” Savula said, as reported by The Standard on November 10, 2025.

The endorsement was officially announced by the UDA party, which framed it as a major political shift that bolsters Ndakwa’s development-focused agenda for Malava. Savula emphasized that his priority is to work with the Kenya Kwanza government to ensure development for Kakamega residents, suggesting that party politics should not hinder progress.

A Web of Contradictory Alliances

The political situation in Malava is further complicated by a series of cross-party endorsements that defy traditional coalition lines. In a move that preceded Savula's announcement, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, a prominent UDA member, declared his support for the DAP-K candidate, Seth Panyako. Khalwale’s decision is reportedly a protest against his own party, UDA, for overlooking Ryan Injendi, the son of the late Malava MP Malulu Injendi, for the party ticket. The seat became vacant following the death of Malulu Injendi in February 2025.

This intricate web of endorsements highlights the fluid and personality-driven nature of politics in the Western region, a key battleground for national political formations. While the broader opposition had been working to field single candidates in the upcoming by-elections to avoid splitting votes, Savula’s decision directly counters this strategy. Several smaller parties, including the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) and the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), had previously withdrawn their candidates in favor of DAP-K's Panyako to consolidate the opposition vote.

Implications for Regional and National Politics

The Malava by-election, scheduled by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) for Thursday, November 27, 2025, is one of several polls being held nationwide to fill vacancies in the National Assembly, Senate, and various County Assemblies. The official campaign period for these elections runs until Monday, November 24, 2025.

Political analysts view these by-elections as a crucial litmus test for party cohesion and the political influence of the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance and the opposition ahead of the 2027 General Election. The public defiance by senior figures like Savula and Khalwale signals potential realignments and instability within their respective parties. The internal turmoil within DAP-K, which has seen public clashes between supporters of Wamalwa and Natembeya, could weaken the party’s standing in its Western Kenya stronghold.

For Kenyan voters, particularly in Malava, these developments present a confusing scenario where party loyalty is openly disregarded by senior leaders. The outcome of the by-election will be closely watched as an indicator of whether voters are swayed by party platforms or by the endorsements of influential local figures, and what it portends for the future of political alliances in the country.