In a packed hall in Nairobi on Wednesday, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi gave Malava residents a striking lesson on political trust. As by-elections approach in the Kakamega County constituency, he pressed voters to select a Member of Parliament who would command the complete confidence of President William Ruto.

Mudavadi, speaking before religious leaders from the region, used a simple prop to drive home his point — a glass of water.

“If I step away and ask someone to replace this glass,” he said, gesturing to the water, “it signals I don’t trust the person sitting here. They’d think I don’t believe in their loyalty.

His appeal cut through the usual campaign rhetoric. “If you want President Ruto to return to this seat and trust whatever he finds — without wondering if it’s been tampered with — then you must choose wisely,” Mudavadi added.

The seat fell vacant with the passing of three-term MP Malulu Injendi, and over 30 candidates now vie for it. Among the frontrunners are Seth Panyako of the United Democratic Party, Edgar Busiega Mwanga of the new Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), and Ryan Injendi — the late MP’s son, with suspected backing from UDA.

Mudavadi suggested that a candidate trusted by the presidency could expedite stalled development projects in Malava — from roads to water, to administrative reform.

But this is not just a developmental plea. The region is witnessing shifting alliances: Busiega Mwanga recently departed for DCP, and presidential aide Farouk Kibet has reportedly shifted support away from Ryan Injendi toward Dr Enock Andanje.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission has slated the by-election for 27 November 2025.

Balanced Reporting Note:
Mudavadi’s message centers on trust and continuity. But voters face a complex web of loyalties—clan, project needs, and shifting political winds. How these factors weigh in the final vote will reveal much about Malava’s priorities.