Malulu Injendi: A resilient political juggernaut with penchant for breaking records

The death of Malava Member of Parliament Moses Malulu Injendi, who was serving his third term has ended an illustrious political career of a man who became the darling of the masses through his down to earth personality.

 Throughout his political career, it wasn’t a walk in the park for those who attempted to wrestle down the 59-year-old maverick.

By the time of his demise while receiving treatment at the Aga Khan University hospital in Nairobi on Monday, February 17, 2025, Injendi had already made it clear that he was going to seek a fourth term and all indications were clear that he was a force to reckon.

Injendi was admitted to the Nairobi hospital early January before he was transferred to Aga Khan in critical condition and put on life support machine for weeks before he was declared dead.

At the hospital, doctors confirmed that he had suffered multiple organ failure caused by a bacterial infection.

Political Journey

In 2007, Injendi then a lecturer at the Catholic University of East Africa joined active politics and was elected an official of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party at Malava sub branch under the late Musavini Sakaya Nambwa.

He would later declare interest to vie for parliamentary position in 2008 and started making inroads across the constituency and by 2011.

At this time, he had become a house hold name in the area’s politics and he dared face Nambwa, who was giving it a second stab and was seen as a front runner after earlier losing to the late Housing Minister Soita Shitanda in the 2007 elections.

In the 2013 elections, Shitanda had declared interest in the Kakamega Gubernatorial seat leaving the Malava MP’s seat for the strongest of those seeking to replace him.

Finding it tough in ODM, Injendi decamped to the then Musalia Mudavadi-led United Democratic Forum (UDF) party after learning he had no chances of being handed an ODM ticket.

However, he was to be shocked on the UDF party nominations day, when his supporters woke up to a rude shock when they found his name missing on the ballot paper.

It was believed that it was a scheme by his then competitor, Alfred Saidi Khasavuli, who had sensed an early defeat though he was finally handed the party ticket in a shambolic nomination exercise.

Injendi, confused on his next move after his political intentions were almost cut short, reached out to the late Maendeleo Democratic Party leader, the late Hamisi Muganda, who handed him his party ticket giving him a second chance and in 2013 and he was elected the area MP for the first time.

He was the only MP on the little known, party housed at a dingy office in downtown Nairobi.

In 2017, Injendi was reelected on the Jubilee Party and the Amani Nation Congress party in 2022.

He lives behind a widow, Betty Injendi, and four children.

People from all walks of life have mourned him as a selfless leader who worked tirelessly to improve the academic standards of his area and believed that an educated society is empowered.

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, MPs Nabiii Nabwera (Lugari), Titus Khamala (Lurambi), and Fred Ikana said death had robbed them of a focused leader who was now on the western region political map and was instrumental in uniting the people ahead of 2027 elections.

Advocate of the High Court Edgar Busiega, who is also his family member, has mourned injendi as a cherished leader who put the interest of the people he served first against his.

He also was a brilliant, generous, and down to earth leader who touched the lives of many, he added.

Injendi will be laid to rest on March 4, 2025 at his Lugusi village home in the Chimuche ward of his Malava constituency.