Panyako questions voting stream change, claims grandson is missing

Malava MP aspirant Seth Panyakoo casts his vote./HANDOUT

DAP-K candidate for the Malava MP seat, Seth Panyako, on Thursday raised concern over a sudden change in the stream where he was assigned to vote, saying the alteration cast doubt on the integrity of the by-election.

Speaking at Lunyu Primary School after casting his ballot, Panyako said he was surprised to find that he had been moved from Stream One, where he voted in the last election, to a different stream despite the register remaining the same.

“They’re saying it is a small administrative issue, according to them. Last elections I voted in Stream One, and we’re using the same registers, and I don’t know why the change,” he said.

“To me, it raises an issue that maybe the register of voters has been tampered with.”

He, however, acknowledged that the Kiems kits were functioning smoothly, noting that voters were being identified, casting their ballots and leaving without delays.

Panyako expressed frustration that complaints he had filed regarding alleged voter and election malpractices had not been acted on.

He further claimed that his life was in danger following what he described as an attack by UDA supporters earlier in the day.

According to him, his grandson went missing during the incident, while his driver and four bodyguards sustained injuries and were rushed to Webuye Sub-County Hospital.

He argued that the unfolding events reflected a wider political message from residents. “The government had lost the election regardless of the outcome as the people of Malava have made a statement,” he said.

Separately, a vehicle belonging to an unknown person was burnt in the Manyonge area by unidentified individuals as voting continued.

The Toyota Prado, whose owner is unknown, was set ablaze by unknown people who were said to be in the company of a local MP at Manyonge in Butali Malava.

According to eyewitnesses, the two groups met along the Butali Factory Road while traversing the constituency, and a group armed with batons descended on the Prado and set it ablaze.

UDA candidate David Ndakwa countered Panyako’s claims, accusing the opposition of intimidating voters in areas they considered strongholds and “meting violence.” He admitted the turnout was low and projected that the by-election could close at about 30 per cent participation.

Despite the political tension, several voters interviewed at polling stations said they were voting freely and had experienced no challenges with the Kiems kits.