Let’s bring it home! Eugene Wamalwa fires up Malava ahead of by-elections

DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa/X

Democratic Action Party (DAP-K) Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa has intensified his final push for the Malava parliamentary by-election.

In a post on Monday, he delivered a charged morning message urging residents to maintain peace and rally behind the opposition-backed candidate Seth Panyako.

“Good morning Malava, it’s the last day for campaigns and two days to the election. Keep it peaceful and let’s bring it home!" he posted.

The ex-Defence CS was also quick to caution against any irregularities in the electoral process, striking a firm and vigilant tone.

"Wanaopanga kuiba kura, Chui itawararua!” he said.

The rallying cry came as the constituency entered the homestretch of a fiercely contested race, with campaign teams making last-minute attempts to sway undecided voters.

Wamalwa has been at the forefront of mobilising support for Panyako, who has emerged as the coalition’s consensus candidate following a wave of endorsements from key political figures.

In recent days, the former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Jubilee deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i have both publicly thrown their weight behind the DAP-K candidate, signaling a notable show of unity within the opposition bloc.

Their backing has injected fresh momentum into Panyako’s campaign, which has positioned itself as a people-centered movement focused on restoring accountability and championing development in the constituency.

“Before I came here, I sent some experts to come and investigate here in Malava and asked them to tell me who will win votes in Malava, and they told me it would be Seth Panyako,” Matiangi told a rally.

But the race is far from decided.

Panyako faces an uphill battle against United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate David Ndakwa, who is enjoying the full backing of the ruling party’s machinery.

Ndakwa’s campaign has been energised by Kenya Kwanza leaders who have toured the constituency in the final stretch, rallying their supporters with the promise of continued national government support should he clinch the seat.

The contest took an unexpected turn on Sunday, November 23, when Democratic National Alliance (DNA) candidate Joab Burudi Manyasi abruptly withdrew from the race.

His last-minute decision to step aside and endorse Ndakwa has been widely perceived as a strategic move aimed at consolidating the pro-government vote.

The development is likely to add new pressure on the opposition camp, which must now work harder to maintain its base and turn out its supporters on polling day.

Even with shifting alliances and intensified political activity, Wamalwa has remained consistent in framing the by-election as a chance for Malava to chart a new course.

As the campaign period draws to a close, all eyes now turn to Thursday's vote.

For Malava’s voters, the by-election offers a pivotal opportunity to decide who will steer the constituency forward at a time of heightened political stakes.