Gachagua’s DCP, Malala fall out of favour in Malava days after unveiling candidate

A section of Malava residents have distanced themselves from the Democratic Citizens Party (DCP) associated with the former impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua barely days after unveiling its candidate ahead of a by-election.

He residents, who spoke to Mulembe News, claimed that anyone seeking to ascend to power in the area should keep off the party whose leader, they said, is a tribalist.

This comes a day after the party deputy party leader Cleophas Malala held a meeting at the home of the candidate, Edgar Busiega, to campaign for him.

Busiega was recently received in the party, but now hostility from the people of Malava who have a soft spot for the Kenya Kwanza administration has started rearing its ugly head.

Malala who is accused of using the people of Malava and dumping them has also been asked not to purport to speak on behalf Malava people whom he left immediately he got big position in government only resurfacing after he had been dropped.

At the same time, Busiega has been warned to be cautious with Malalah as he would abandon him as soon as he siphons Busiega’s funds.

They have claimed that Malalah has a habit of fleecing candidates and dumping them.

Malalah is said to be reaching out to other aspirants from the area telling them that he will hand them the ticket while at the same time lying to Busiega that he is the sole candidate all aimed at fleecing him.

Gachagua has been accused of having no agenda but spreading hate among Kenyans and speaking a tribal language that is not the best for a developing nation.

He was a stumbling block to the people of Western Kenya as he came up with the share-holding narrative that cost many regions at the time he was the deputy president.

Malava’s politics is taking shape, and the race to replace late Malava MP is gaining momentum with now the Independent Electoral boundaries Commission (IEBC) in place.

It is expected that the by-election will be held before the year ends with the rulling United Democratic Alliance party having an upper hand.

The party has attracted more than five candidates among them, the West Kabras Ward MCA David Ndakwa, former Kivaywa High School principal Simon Kangwana and his Bungoma High School counterpart Enock Andanje.

Also, lawyer Leonard Shimaka and the late MP’s son Rhyan Injendi are in the race to get the party’s ticket.

The sustained development forays by the friend of the area Farouk Kibet is bearing fruits with locals now embracing the party more.

There is a feeling that electing an individual who supports or is in a government party will be a continuation of already set development plan and hence beneficial to the people of Malava.

More than five empowerment events have already been held in five wards of Butali/chegulo, Shirugu-Mugai, South Kabras, East Kabras, and Chemuche, where women, youth and Bodaboda groups have benefitted.

Also, two wards of West Kabras and Mand/Shivanga are set to host senior government officials for the same initiative.

In the area, projects worth billions of shillings have been initiated among them three water projects of Namagara, Namanja, and Shitirira which are near completion and thousands of residents set to benefit.

Recently, the energy cabinet secretary Opiyo Wandayi launched the last mile electricity program that will see households connected to power.

The launch of the construction to bitumen standards of Kimang’eti-Ikoli road and then the plan to extend it from Malava to Navakholo is a big boost to business activities for the people as it connects to Bungoma county and even to Uganda.