New Twist as DAP-K Deputy Party Leader Endorses UDA Candidate in Malava By-Election
A surprising political shift has emerged in the Malava parliamentary race after Ayub Savula, the Deputy Party Leader of the Democratic Alliance Party–Kenya (DAP-K) and current Deputy Governor of Kakamega County, publicly endorsed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, David Ndakwa.
The UDA party confirmed on Monday, November 10, that Savula had officially thrown his support behind Ndakwa, who is considered one of the two leading contenders in the upcoming Malava by-election.
The endorsement comes just three weeks before voters head to the polls on November 27, a move that could significantly alter the political dynamics in the region.
“In a major political realignment, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, who also serves as the DAP-K Deputy Party Leader, has declared his full support for Hon. David Ndakwa in the Malava parliamentary race,” UDA stated.
“This endorsement signifies a major turning point in Kakamega politics, as key leaders rally behind Ndakwa’s vision of unity and development.
The political tide in Malava is shifting fast, and the movement behind Ndakwa is gaining unstoppable momentum,” the party added.
Growing Political Tension in Malava
Savula’s decision has deepened the ongoing political tension in the Malava by-election, where several leaders have openly defied their party lines to back rival candidates.
The move mirrors a growing pattern among Western Kenya politicians who have been crossing party boundaries in this contest.
Recently, Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, a UDA member, caused a stir when he declared his support for DAP-K’s candidate, Seth Panyako, instead of backing his party’s own aspirant.
Khalwale, who has since faced criticism and possible disciplinary threats from UDA, defended his decision as an act of fairness and personal principle.
He explained that his choice to back Panyako was influenced by President William Ruto’s alleged failure to award the UDA ticket to Ryan Injendi — the son of the late Malava MP Malulu Injendi.
According to Khalwale, this was unfair given that the government had supported families of other deceased politicians by offering them state appointments.
“Mr. President, when Malulu passed away, so did Baringo Senator Cheptumo and Migori’s Dalmas Otieno.
You gave Cheptumo’s widow a Cabinet position and Dalmas’ wife a senior state job, but for Malulu’s family, nothing was done. You neither considered the wife nor the son,” Khalwale lamented.
Opposition Candidates Unite Behind Panyako
Meanwhile, the Opposition has been consolidating its strength behind DAP-K’s Seth Panyako. Several candidates allied to opposition parties have stepped down in his favour, signalling a united front to challenge UDA’s candidate in the by-election.
On Monday, Joab Burudi Manyasi, who was running under the Democratic National Alliance (DNA) ticket, officially withdrew from the race to support Panyako.
Panyako expressed gratitude for the move, saying it was a collective decision to ensure that the people of Malava rally behind a local candidate rather than an outsider.
“This is a decision made in unity to strengthen the voice of Malava residents,” Panyako said. “We want leadership that truly represents the people, not a foreign agenda.”
This latest development came just days after Edgar Busiega, the candidate representing former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens’ Party (DCP), also dropped out of the race to back Panyako.
As the by-election draws closer, the Malava constituency has become a battlefield of shifting loyalties and unexpected alliances, making it one of the most closely watched political contests in Western Kenya.
The coming weeks will reveal whether Savula’s dramatic endorsement of the UDA candidate will sway the tide in Ndakwa’s favour or if Panyako’s growing coalition will hold strong and deliver a surprise victory for the Opposition.
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