Seth Panyako Arrested After Night Attack and Vehicle Vandalism
DAP–Kenya’s candidate for the Malava parliamentary by-election, Seth Panyako, has been arrested just hours after he survived a violent attack in which his vehicles were vandalised by unknown individuals.
According to DAP–K officials, Panyako is currently being held at Malava Police Station, where he was detained shortly after going there to report the incident.
The party expressed deep concern, claiming that the arrest happened even though their candidate had been the victim of violence earlier in the night.
In a strong statement, the party accused the police of allowing the violence to happen and then turning against their own victim.
“Our candidate, Seth Panyako, has been apprehended and is being held at Malava Police Station,” DAP–Kenya announced.
“This happened after goons, allegedly operating under police watch, terrorised him the whole night, injured our agents, and destroyed property. Now they want to intimidate him, but we will not accept it.”
The dramatic arrest comes only hours after Panyako warned that there was a well-organised scheme to eliminate him, saying he had repeatedly noticed suspicious individuals following him.
Speaking to journalists after casting his vote at St Joseph Lunyu Primary School, Panyako claimed that he was being targeted because pre-election surveys showed he was the frontrunner in the race for the Malava MP seat.
He insisted that some government-aligned forces were determined to stop him from participating in the poll.
“The government candidate had only 24 per cent yesterday. So the only way they see themselves winning this election is by getting me out of the way,” Panyako alleged.
He further said that the attack on him and the alleged plot to eliminate him were part of a larger plan by individuals he linked to the government, aimed at blocking his participation in the mini-polls.
The Malava by-election is one of the most closely watched contests of the day, especially in Kakamega County, where it is seen as a battle for political supremacy between the united opposition and the broad-based government coalition.
The race has narrowed down to two main contenders:
- Seth Panyako, representing the opposition
- David Ndakwa, associated with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)
Both candidates are locked in a fierce contest to succeed the late Malulu Injendi, who passed away in February after a short illness.
The unfolding events surrounding Panyako’s arrest have added more tension and uncertainty to an already heated by-election, raising questions about security, fairness, and the freedom of candidates to campaign and vote without intimidation.
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