Malava DAP-K Candidate Seth Panyako Arrested
DAP-K’s parliamentary candidate in the Malava by-election, Seth Panyako, has been arrested only hours after he claimed he was attacked overnight and his campaign vehicles vandalised in what he described as a politically driven plot to intimidate him.
The party confirmed on Thursday morning that Panyako was being held at Malava Police Station, alleging that authorities had taken him into custody shortly after he arrived to lodge a formal complaint about the incident.
In a statement, DAP-K said:
“Our candidate, Seth Panyako, has been apprehended and is currently being held at Malava Police Station. This, even after goons under police supervision terrorised him the whole night, injured our agents, and destroyed property. Now they want to intimidate him. We will not allow it!”
Party officials accused unnamed state actors of orchestrating the violence, describing it as a deliberate attempt to disrupt the by-election in Kakamega County.
Claims of a Plot
Panyako’s arrest comes just hours after he publicly raised concerns about what he described as a “well-coordinated plan” to remove him from the race. Speaking to reporters after casting his vote at St Joseph Lunyu Primary School, he claimed he had been trailed by unidentified individuals for several days.
He insisted that pre-election polling showed he was leading the race, making him a target.
“The government candidate was only doing 24 per cent yesterday,” he said. “So the only option that is there for the government candidate to win this election is to take me out.”
The candidate further alleged that both the attack on his convoy and the threats he reported were part of a broader strategy by individuals “linked to the government” to prevent him from participating in Thursday’s mini-polls.
High-Stakes Contest
The Malava by-election is one of the most closely watched contests of the day, viewed as a key test of political strength between the united opposition bloc and the governing coalition in Kakamega County.
The race has centred around two frontrunners:
- Seth Panyako, representing DAP-K within the opposition coalition
- David Ndakwa, aligned with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and backed by the government side
Both are vying to succeed the late Malulu Injendi, who died in February after a short illness.
Tensions in the constituency have reportedly escalated in recent days, with each camp accusing the other of intimidation and electoral interference. Police have not yet issued a formal statement on Panyako’s arrest or the alleged attack on his vehicles.
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Malava DAP-K Candidate Seth Panyako Arrested