Fireworks as Malava residents gang up against outsiders as race for MP tightens

Malava residents are up in arms against some leaders imposing and deciding who will become their next Member of Parliament (MP).

The residents drawn majorly from the Abasonje subclan, where the former late MP Moses Malulu Injendi belonged, were speaking during a ceremony to endorse another of their son, Edgar Busiega, as teor preferred candidate for the seat.

They warned outsiders against coming to Malava and imposing leaders against the residents’ wishes.

Led by their organizing secretary Sikolia Minyilo, the residents stated that they were all prepared to back one of their own to contest for the seat once a by-election is called and IEBC fully constituted.

The clan vice chairman Malumasa Mukhwana added his voice by calling on the clan and entire Malava people to back the youthful lawyer as he was the best candidate to steer the constituency ahead.

Malava, which has so far witnessed close to 42 aspirants battling out for the seat, has been under duress following external involvement by some politicians pushing Rhyan Injendi, the son of the late MP, to vie for the seat.

But according to the locals, the area has had other MPs who passed on but their family members stayed away from succession politics and thus, they will not allow the late MP’s son to salivate for the seat.

“This is not a monarchy constituency where the leadership baton is passed from family to the other, we have eyes and we have decided to back Busiega for the seat as he is our preferred choice,”  said elder Chisambo Mulanda.

“We have decided today that as Abasonje, we have endorsed him (Edgar Busiega) as our parliamentary aspirant and we will back him until we ensure that he clinches the seat. We are not going to allow outsiders to come and decide for us by giving us their project candidate that will be serving their interests only,” he spoke on behalf of the subclan.

They stated that it was time for the Kenya Kwanza administration to desist from interfering in Malava affairs and instead let the voters decide through the ballot.

Kenya Kwanza has been trying to impose their preferred leader through President William Ruto’s Personal Assistant Farouk Kibet alongside other leaders who do not hail from the area including Leader of Majority Kimani Ichungwah among other top politicians.

Farouk has been a common figure in the area since the passing of Malulu, criss crossing the constituency as he attends fundraisers.

Earlier, the local Kenya Kwanza branch was thrown into shambles after Farouk hosted area MCAs to pick one of them but there was no agreement.

More trouble and fireworks emerged after it became clear that the Kenya Kwanza side leaning towards Ruto had overlooked the one allied to Musalia Mudavadi and the Prime Cabinet Secretary’s trusted ally who is seen as a senior, as he holds the seat of the Leader of Minority in the Kakamega County Assembly.

David Ndakwa had hoped to be handed a direct ticket by the UDA party, but all seems not well as Farouk and his team decided there must be party primaries to pick a candidate.

It is said a majority of local party heavyweights were against the idea of fronting the late MP’s son whom they see as a novice with no value to the party.

And now, the former MP’s kinsmen have come out openly and thrown their weight behind Busiega saying he has displayed himself honourably to vie for the seat.

In addition, the elders argued that Busiega has the qualities that will see him be elected by both the young and old.

On his part Busiega assured the elders and the people of Malava that he will not let them down should he be elected in the expected by-election.

“I’m humbled to be chosen as the sole candidate from the clan to be allowed to vie for the seat and I am calling on all the Malava people to stand with me as I seek to be their servant,” he said as he outlined his vision for the people.

He called for peaceful campaigns and free and fair election adding that it was each individual’s right to exercise their democratic rights by electing their suitable leaders.