Confusion, split rocks Abatovo over 2027 Malava MP candidate
Confusion has rocked Abatovo subclan of the larger Kabras clan who resides in Malava sub-county of Kakamega following the endorsement of Bungoma High School principal Enock Andanje as their preferred candidate for parliamentary position against Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary General Seth Panyako.
In a sitting chaired by the clan chairman Elijah Karungani and former Chegulo councillor Mulupi Washiko at a Kaburengu hotel and in the absence of Panyako, Andanje was given the nod to seek the parliamentary seat as the sole candidate who has the clan’s blessings.
On the other hand Panyako has been asked by the clan to seek a higher elective office if he is still interested in active politics after losing it two times.
The kinsmen have however said that they are ready to endorse him for the senatorial post, which he contested in 2017 but lost to Cleophas Malala.
Panyako, who also contested on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, came second after the incumbent Malulu Injendi who was the Amani National Congress(ANC) party flag bearer after garnering 20,133 votes against Injendi, who bagged 22,891 votes in the last elections.
He then headed to court, claiming his victory had been stolen and that Injendi had been fraudulently declared winner, but the High Court sitting in Kakamega upheld Injendi’s victory.
“We can’t bless two sons at the same time, we did it for Panyako in 2022, and we have done it for Andanje to fly the flag in 2027,” said Karungani.
He added that Andanje was now free to criss-cross the constituency and seek support from other subclans on the assurance that his family is behind his candidature saying any member who goes against the wish of the clan’s resolution will meet the wrath of their gods.
