Church Harambee turns political as Malava MP hopefuls battle for supremacy – VIDEO
The president’s aide, Faruk Kibet, led a team of members of Parliament, alongside, majority leader Kimani Ichung’wa, senators and members of county assembly in an interdenominational churches harambee held at Kimang’eti grounds in Chimuche ward of Malava constituency where close to Kshs 12 million was raised.
However, the function would later turn into a supremacy battleground for those aspiring to replace late area mp Malulu Injendi, who died early this year while serving his third term.
It was Jeers and Cheers as individuals stood up to address the faithful from drawn from across all areas of the constituency who had converged asking them to consider them as the best placed to be elected next Malava leader in a by-election likely to be held before the year ends.
The first on stage was Ugandan based politician Joab Burudi Manyasi who has lost twice to the late having in both elections of the 2017 in which he came second and 2022 where he finished inclined towards the opposition parties indicated he would this time be seeking to be elected a leader in a government party the United Democratic Alliance party.
His speech was flat, and the crowd was left unsatisfied.
Many say his presence was least expected.
For commisoner of police,analysts say he found himself in a very unfamiliar ground, and no sooner had he started addressing the otherwise impatient crowd,he was ready to leave the stage in a cheetah speed.
In the event,Lawyer and Advocate of High Court Leornard Shimaka and Kivaywa High School principal left the podium happy with hopes of becoming the next if the ullulations were anything to go by.
The two seemed to be communicating directly in the hearts of the electorates, and cheers rendered the air signalling a new wave of love when they raised their voices and hands to crowds that wanted them to stay more.
The late mp son, Rhyan Injendi,Bungoma high school principal Enock Andanje, were also among those who pleaded with the electorates to give them an opportunity to lead.
Malava is now becoming a hot bed of politics as the opposition and government scrambles for a share of more than 94,000 registered voters a number that is likely to go even higher in the coming 2027 general elections.
It is the largest subcounty in Kenyas’ second largest county after the capital city Nairobi county ,Kakamega county, under Fernandes Barasa as the governor.
What is becoming clear is that the rulling party, the United Democratic Alliance party may be forced to hold party nominations against their earlier plans of issuing a direct ticket where Injendi and West Kabras member of county assembly David Ndakwa are being favored by the state against others.
On the ground,it is evident that Shimaka and Kangwana are gaining support daily and are seen as the front runners, and unfairly denying them a ticket will be castrophic to the government party.
On the other hand,the Democratic Action party of Kenya has two strong candidates who are to square out for the ticket
Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General Seth Panyako and Lawyer and Advocate of the High Court Edgar Busiega are set to battle for the ticket ahead of the by-election.
The two tickets are now lucrative in Malava politics, and a winner can easily emerge from any of the camps.
More than 30 candidates have declared interest to replace Injendi.
