Mudavadi: I'll make sure UDA retains Malava seat

Prime Cabinet Minister Musalia Mudavadi during the funeral service of the late Malava MP Malulu Injendi in Lugusi village, Malava, on March 3, 2025. [Benjamin Sakwa, Standard]

Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi will spearhead the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) campaigns for the Malava constituency by-election.

Addressing a gathering of over 100 clan chairpersons and elders drawn from the 29 Kabras clans, Mudavadi said he would leverage his ties to the constituency to secure a UDA victory.

“Until you elect a new Member of Parliament, I stand as your patron in Malava. We must move forward together, build on the strong foundation laid by our late brother Malulu Injendi, and ensure the development agenda remains on course,” he said.

The by-election was necessitated by the death of Injendi, the Malava MP and UDA member, in February this year.

Through Mudavadi, the ruling party is seeking to entrench its influence in a region long regarded as a swing vote in Western Kenya.

During the clan meeting, elders led by chairperson Alphose Masinde and secretary-general Harrison Tanga presented Mudavadi with a memorandum outlining key projects initiated during Injendi’s tenure.

Among the concerns were the incomplete Malava–Ikoli and Malava–Samitsi roads, the stalled Namanja and Sikhuyu water projects, ongoing construction of student hostels at Shamberere National Polytechnic, and delays in operationalising the Kabras West Sub-County headquarters and the Malava Medical Training College.

The elders also called for the gazettement and staffing of newly created administrative units in East and West Kabras, including Chesero and Chivanga divisions, as well as various locations and sub-locations such as Nguvuli, Shikutse, Indulusia, and Shivagala.

In response, Mudavadi pledged immediate follow-up, revealing that he had already written to the relevant Cabinet Secretaries to address both infrastructure and administrative concerns.

“I have formally communicated with Roads and Transport CS Davis Chirchir regarding the stalled road projects, and I am engaging Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen to ensure the newly created administrative units are activated. These are not mere promises—they are actionable items,” he said.

While the by-election is quickly shaping up to be a key political contest in Kakamega County, Mudavadi struck a conciliatory tone, urging voters to move beyond clan affiliations and populist rhetoric.

“Leadership is not about theatrics or short-term pledges,” he said. “Malava deserves a leader who is predictable, consistent, and dependable—someone who can be trusted to prioritise the people.”

He also announced plans for a series of stakeholder engagements in the coming weeks, targeting youth, women, scholars, farmers, business people, and religious leaders. These forums, he said, would form the backbone of a grassroots-driven vision for Malava’s future.

Although UDA is yet to officially unveil its candidate, Mudavadi assured constituents that the party would nominate a leader who resonates with the people.

“This is not about party supremacy—it is about service, continuity, and honouring the legacy of our late brother. We will choose someone who truly reflects the aspirations of this great constituency,” he said.