- Tension spiked in Malava hours before Thursday’s by-election after DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako claimed there was an attempt on his life
- Panyako accused powerful political figures of being behind the incident, claiming a returning officer told him there were orders from William Ruto
- The night confrontation escalated when a police Land Cruiser allegedly forced open the hotel gate, clearing the way for attackers
- DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa condemned the attack, accusing police of colluding with goons to intimidate voters and influence the by-election
Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Tension is high ahead of the Malava by-election has deepened after Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) candidate Seth Panyako claimed his life was in danger.
Source: Facebook
This followed a dramatic night confrontation at his hotel, hours before residents went to the polls on Thursday, November 27.
The incident, which he linked directly to President William Ruto, has now escalated the already heated by-election into a national talking point over political violence, police conduct, and interference in the electoral process.
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How did the alleged threat first reach Panyako?
According to Panyako, what started as an online warning about a possible police raid turned into a frightening encounter that left him convinced the attack was planned to eliminate him.
He alleged that he had been tipped off that officers intended to storm his hotel and arrest him for reasons he wasn’t aware.
At first, he dismissed it as idle talk, even joking online that he was waiting for the officers to present whatever charges they had.
“First, I had information that the police were planning to raid our hotel. And I went to social media and I said the police are planning to raid our hotel. And then I thought it was just a joke. So I said I’m here, I’m taking something, waiting for the police,” Panyako claimed.
However, the former unionist revealed that nothing happened until later that evening at around 8.30pm.
Panyako stated that he was in the hotel with his wife when he was alerted that politician Stanley Livondo had arrived outside and wanted to see him.
He said he had never interacted with Livondo before, having only seen him from afar in past political scenes.
When Livondo called his name, Panyako kept his distance, insisting he was in his own home and would not walk out to meet someone he did not know.
“I’ve never met Livondo. I’ve never greeted him. I’ve never met him actually, in my life. I just see him. I used to see him dishing money in choppers. But I’ve never been close to him. He called out my name, and he told me, come. And I told him, I can’t come,” the Malava MP hopeful stated.
Instead, he asked his assistants to invite Livondo inside, but the politician allegedly refused to get in.
What followed raised even more suspicion as Panyako’s team noticed the number plates on Livondo’s vehicles appeared altered using black sellotape, changing letters to mask the actual registration.
Despite reporting these concerns to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), he said no action had been taken.
Who did Panyako blame for alleged attack?
In an unexpected twist, Panyako revealed that during his conversation with a constituency returning officer, he allegedly told him that the threats against him were coming from the very top.
Panyako insisted the officer confessed there were orders “from William Ruto” to eliminate him so he wouldn’t appear on the ballot.
“Where we have reached, we must say the truth. Salim, who is the attorney officer for Malava constituency, told me at one point that there is nothing he can do because there are orders from William Ruto to have me eliminated so that I’m not on the ballot. And so I knew at the back of my mind that William Ruto was doing this. It’s not about Nabii Nabwera. It’s not about Faruok Kibet. It’s not about Livondo,” Panyako added.
Addressing the attack, DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa condemned the attack and accused police of working with the group.
He said the goons initially struggled to break into the compound, but officers in a police Land Cruiser from Matete Police Station eventually forced the gate open, allegedly clearing the way for the attackers.
Source: Facebook
According to Wamalwa, Panyako escaped on a motorbike as the attackers damaged his vehicles and left several people injured.
He maintained that the events were not isolated acts of chaos but part of a wider scheme to intimidate voters and disrupt the democratic process.
Wamalwa criticised the violence, the alleged bribery in the area and the involvement of officers, who he said acted as tools for political actors.
He argued that the conduct of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate, David Ndakwa, should disqualify him from the race.
“We’ve just come from the hospital and we want to say that apart from the violence we have seen today, the vote bribery, which is actually grounds for the disqualification of this candidate, we want to see action taken,” Wamalwa stated.
Is there plot to arrest Khalwale?
Elsewhere, Senator Boni Khalwale claimed his security detail was abruptly withdrawn just hours before the by‑election.
He asserted that the move was linked to a plot to arrest him, allegedly meant to block him from monitoring votes for his preferred candidate.
Khalwale accused authorities of intimidation, saying he would not hide but remains ready to appear if summoned.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
