Malava’s unpredictable political chess: Will new blood change the game?

Politics of Malava constituency are and will always remain unpredictable until the last two months to election, especially on who will take over from who in elective positions.

Clan politics play a center stage and every candidate coming will either if he comes from minority endear himself well with the majority clan to make inroads then clinch to position or if he or she comes from majority will always tell kinsmen that their numbers should count.

The constituency that in last general election was at around 93,000 has seven wards, namely Manda/Shivanga,Chimuche,East Kabras,Butali/Chegulo,Shirugu/Mugai,West Kabras and South Kabras wards.

However, in almost all elections, only 60pc voter turnout is recorded, and analysts say the don’t care attitude is the most undoing of the voters in the area.

While it is not clear who will be the next member of Parliament even as Injendi who has declared a fourth stab for the position he has held since 2013 and is seen as a clear front runner moves around,it is evident that more than half the members of county assembly will be given a humble pie by the voters who seem angry with the high level of underdevelopment that has rocked the area in the coming elections.

Others will survive based on the close interaction with the electorates,lobby for developments through partners and a clear vision of what the future holds for the electorates whom they have put clear in their minds that all maybe well soon.

Most of the Mcas are blaming the county governor Fernandes Barasa for their failure to deliver to their people, and this has not gone down well with the electorates.

Three MCAs namely Peter Wanami(Shirugu/Mugai) Kefa Musiya(East Kabras) and Josephat Wakukha(South Kabras)may be sent home by the electorates if the current situation on the ground is anything to go by.

It is not clear why the three who are retirees as Wanami and Musiya are former teachers, while Wakukha, a former intelligence officer, is facing rejection from voters.

The age factor maybe their most undoing as their approach to issues may appear different and not the best for the Generation z who now seem to be dictatikg the political landscape in the country as also they are able to bond well with the electorates comparatively with other areas like Chegulo/Butali where Kevin Mahelo who is serving his second term in office is seen to be a vibrant and focused leader on development issues same to his youthful West Kabras counterpart David Ndakwa who doubles as the county minority leader whose development record is clear and the electorates can easily associate his name with development.

For the Manda/Shivanga MCA David Kivishi,no one can doubt his delivery ability as the writtings are on the wall and ask anyone be it from Malava town or his village of Tombo they will tell you he deserves a second term of all the factors remain intact.

Geoffrey Sikolia of Chimuche who has put the county government on toes to deliver for its people is among the young energetic leader who it may require a lot of input to wrestle him down owing to his strong bonding with the voters.

He speaks the mind of the majority, and this has made him popular among his electorates.

Back to the Mp position,more than 10 candidates have shown interest to unseat Injendi and worse to him is that his family man Lawyer and advocate of the high court Edgar Busiega is among those who want him out.

This automatically leaves Injendi fourth term stab hanging in a balance as he has always relied so much on Basonje voting bloc to beat opponents.

Shilunji Taliti, who hails from the larger Avashu clan, is also set to join the dirty waters of politics in the area.

Should his clan vote him to the last man, and with his roots in Busonje where he is uncled and assured of some support, he stands a chance of an early win.

Kenya National Union of Nurses Seth Panyako, who hails from the third large clan of Avatovo clan and who came second in the last elections in a court contested win will try his luck again in 2027.

But unlike 2022 where he enjoyed most votes from Avashu, who did not field a candidate, he will need extra efforts to clinch the seat.

Again, to his disadvantage,high school principal Enock Andanje, who is his family member, seems to have hit the road as his candidature receives a warm welcome, and this automatically tempers with his voting bloc.

Youthful Benjamin hails from the minority group of the Avaluu based at Matsakha also is making inroads in Malava constituency politics.

The fact that former housing minister Soita Shitanda, also from the minority clan of Avashivika subclan of the larger Kabras clan, led the area for fifteen years is a clear indicator that his decision is not ill advised.

It is not clear whether Joab Manyasi an engineer will give a third trial for the position but should he make a comeback it even weakens Injendi candidature even more as they are neighbors and will fight in same voting bloc.

Pressure is mounting on minority leader David Ndakwa, who hails from the Avashu sub clan to try his hand in parliamentary position, having served as an mca for two terms.

What is clear about the sub clan arrangements is that only one candidate will be cleared to vie and that means Ndakwa and Shilunji who are seen as clear candidates and are in deep talks will agree on who goes for the position.

The sub clan, according to an insighter, trusts that any of the two, if given maximum support, will bag the position.

While Shitanda led Malava for fifteen years,Joshua Angatia for thirteen years as his had a four year break when Nathan Anaswa Led for four years before the court annulled his win a year to the 1992 General elections,It is now clear that should Injendi win the 2027 election then he will be setting the first record as the leader who will have served for 20 years,but until that happens history has it that the highest number of years and individual has served in Malava constituency is fifteen years.