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Member of Parliament, Malava
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David Athman Ndakwa is a Kenyan politician and long-serving grassroots leader who was elected Member of Parliament for Malava Constituency (Kakamega County) in the by-election held on 27 November 2025. Running on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, he secured about 21,564 votes, narrowly defeating Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP–K) candidate Seth Panyako, who garnered roughly 20,210 votes, in one of the tightest races of the by-election cycle. The seat fell vacant after the death of long-serving MP Moses Malulu Injendi in February 2025, making Ndakwa the new face of Malava at the National Assembly. Before entering national politics, Ndakwa built his profile in county government as Kabras West MCA and Minority Leader in the Kakamega County Assembly, earning a reputation as an articulate opposition voice and effective CDF-style mobiliser. His victory in Malava—delivered after a bruising contest that drew in national heavyweights such as Musalia Mudavadi, Farouk Kibet and George Natembeya—was hailed by UDA as proof of its growing influence in Western Kenya, and by his supporters as a mandate for continuity and completion of projects started by the late Injendi.
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Delivering a strategic Western win for UDA: His victory allowed UDA to retain Malava, giving President William Ruto’s party a symbolic boost in Western Kenya amidst intense competition from DAP–K, DCP and ODM.
Three-term MCA and Minority Leader (Kakamega County Assembly): Before Parliament, he served three consecutive terms as MCA for Kabras West and held the position of Minority Leader in the County Assembly—a rare continuity that underpins his reputation as an experienced local lawmaker.
Highly polarised by-election environment: The Malava race was marred by tensions, arrests and violence, including reports of clashes, arrests of rival politicians and the torching of a vehicle associated with DAP–K’s leadership—events that, while not directly implicating Ndakwa personally, framed his win within a contentious security environment.
Claims of rigging by main opponent: Immediately after the result, Seth Panyako publicly rejected the tally, alleging manipulation at about 54 polling stations and insisting that the “will of Malava voters was subverted.” These claims have, as yet, not been upheld by a court or the IEBC, but they remain part of the political narrative around Ndakwa’s victory.
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Delivering a strategic Western win for UDA: His victory allowed UDA to retain Malava, giving President William Ruto’s party a symbolic boost in Western Kenya amidst intense competition from DAP–K, DCP and ODM.
Mandate for project continuity: In his acceptance speech, he pledged to prioritise completion of ongoing development projects initiated by the late Injendi before launching new ones, positioning himself as a custodian of the constituency’s existing development pipeline.
Intra-Western political rivalries: His campaign was backed by Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetang’ula allies and presidential aide Farouk Kibet, putting him at the centre of Western Kenya’s factional battles against figures like Governor George Natembeya and other emerging regional power brokers.
