Big 3: Shift as Edgar Busiega penetrates Malava, leads the pack for MP

The race to dethrone Malava Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Malulu Injendi is gaining momentum with barely three years to the 2027 General Election.

already, the race has attracted at least seven candidates even as more alignments are expected in the political field.

Injendi has indicated that he will be seeking a fourth term, but his close associates have advised him against it, advising him to either go for another elective position or retire honourably.

The Kakamega senatorial position is the most preferred according to them as the current holder Dr. Bonnie Khalwale, is fixated on going for the Kakmega gubernatorial position, hence an easy ride for him.

To his close friends, there are higher chances that the third time legislator may be defeated at the ballot for MP if the recent happenings in the area are anything to go by.

The legislator has never had peace since voting to save former Agricultural Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi over the fake fertiliser scam and later voting ‘Yes’ to the controversial Finance Bill that caused unrest across the country.

Among those who have already declared interest to send Injendi home is lawyer and Advocate of the High Court Edgar Busiega, Bungoma High School Principal Enock Andanje, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako and Government surveyor Benjamin Nalwa.

Others are Lewis Sitanda, Joab Manyasi, and interior ministry officer Simon White.

All the candidates will ride on Injendi’s poor development record for the 15 years he would have led the constituency with skewed resource distribution as mega development projects being launched in his home ward of Chimuche at the expense of other wards.

The area has seven wards, namely Shirugu-Mugai, Butali-Chegulo, Manda-Shivanga, East Kabras, and South and west Kabras wards

However, the youthful and energetic Busiega is seen as the front runner as he is involved in activities that are endearing him well with the electorate, among them, payment of fees for bright but needy students whose dreams are almost becoming through his support.

Also, he is supporting self-help groups, and recently, he donated dairy cows to groups in the Chimuche ward even as he continues to fundraise for other groups to enable them to engage economic improvement activities

Panyako has been sending mixed signals since he lost to injendi in 2022, a victory that was contested in court, and a ruling was delivered in favour of Injendi.

He is being pushed to try his luck on the senatorial position, which he lost to Cleophas Malala in 2017, and he is yet to come out clearly on the same and has been missing in action.