Strategic Appointments Announced Days Before Crucial Vote

MALAVA, KENYA – In a move that has intensified the political climate ahead of the Malava constituency by-election, President William Ruto has appointed two former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) aspirants to diplomatic posts. The appointments were publicly announced by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi on Monday, November 25, 2025, during a UDA campaign rally at Malava Primary School, just three days before voters head to the polls.

Simon Kangwana was named Education Attaché at the Kenyan Mission in Uganda, while Rhyan Injendi Malulu was appointed Trade Attaché at the Kenyan Embassy in South Africa. A third aspirant, Leonard Shimaka, had been appointed as a commissioner at the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) in October for a three-year term. During the Monday rally, Mr. Kangwana and Mr. Malulu were called to the podium to read their appointment letters aloud from Mr. Mudavadi's mobile phone, drawing a charged response from the crowd.

Fulfillment of a Political Promise

The appointments are the fulfillment of a promise President Ruto made to the aspirants after they agreed to shelve their ambitions and support David Ndakwa, who subsequently won the UDA party ticket. Addressing the rally, Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi stated that the President had kept his word and urged the electorate to reciprocate by voting for the ruling party's candidate. "The president has kept his word on the UDA aspirants and the development projects currently ongoing in Malava. I ask you to be honourable as you have always been and vote for the UDA candidate," Mr. Mudavadi said on Monday, November 25.

This practice of rewarding political loyalists with state appointments is a long-standing feature of Kenyan politics, often utilized to consolidate support and manage coalition interests. However, the public nature and timing of these specific appointments have been highlighted by political analysts as a particularly overt electoral strategy.

High-Stakes By-Election in Western Kenya

The Malava parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of MP Malulu Injendi on February 17, 2025. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) subsequently scheduled the by-election for Thursday, November 27, 2025. The contest is viewed as a significant political barometer for the Kenya Kwanza administration's influence in the Western Kenya region, a critical swing-vote bloc.

The race has narrowed into a two-horse contest between UDA's David Ndakwa and Seth Panyako of the Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K). The ruling coalition has deployed significant political capital to secure the seat, with senior figures including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula and President Ruto's influential aide, Farouk Kibet, actively campaigning for Mr. Ndakwa. The UDA campaign received a further boost when Joab Burudi Manyasi, the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) candidate, stepped down and endorsed Mr. Ndakwa on Sunday, November 24.

Implications for Governance and Diplomacy

The appointments have reignited debate on the politicization of public service and diplomatic roles in Kenya. While presented as a reward for party loyalty, critics argue that such moves can undermine meritocracy within the civil service and foreign service. Proponents, however, see it as a pragmatic tool for building political consensus and ensuring that government allies are in positions to advance the ruling party's agenda.

Prime Cabinet Secretary Mudavadi framed the issue as one of developmental efficacy, arguing that a constituency represented by a ruling party MP has better access to government services and resources. "An MP from the ruling party easily accesses government services because of proximity to the president and the government functionaries. The late MP Malulu Injendi left you in government, ensure that you stay inside," he advised Malava voters. As the official campaign period concluded on Monday, November 25, the focus now shifts to the voters of Malava, who will deliver their verdict in a by-election laden with national political significance.