Lewis Shitanda dropped as Abatali pick Daniel Mwachi for Malava MP contest
Malava succession politics is slowly taking shape with some hopefuls being dropped and rejected by their respective clans ahead of the expected by-election to replace the area’s deceased MP Moses Malulu Injendi.
The latest to be rejected by his kinsmen is lawyer Lewis Shitanda, who was asked to shelve his ambition by the Abatali subclan in favour of Daniel Mwachi whom they perceive to be a stronger candidate.
In a meeting held at Minata hotel in Webuye and attended by three contestants including Lewis Shitanda, Daniel Mwachi, and Simon Kangwana, chaired John Shitanda, Mwachi was endorsed after a vote was conducted where Kangwana and Shitanda got 4 and 2 votes respectively.
All the thirteen subclans of Abatali were present as the secretary John Mukwe communicated the outcome, and they all agreed to abide by the decision as going against could have grave consequences.
Recently, the Abashu clan unanimously endorsed Shilunji Taliti as their sole candidate.
Subclan chairman Francis Mulari and secretary General Kennedy Tovoko are now consolidating the vote bloc behind him.
Abatovo subclan had late last year landed on Bungoma High School principal Enock Andanje as their preferred candidate against the Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako.
Panyako contested in 2017 for the Kakamega senatorial position losing it Cleophas Malalah and Malava parliamentary position in 2022 and lost to Injendi.
The clan has, however, requested him to seek any other elective post and not that of MP.
In the late MPs home turf, his Abasonje subclan has warned his son Rhyan Injendi against contesting saying he should wait until his father’s spirit rests first as it is an abomination for him to go for the seat this early.
This will pave the way for an automatic endorsement of lawyer and Advocate of the High Court Edgar Busiega to face other candidates in the by-election.
More than 20 candidates have declared interest to replace the late MP, and more are yet to declare.
