Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has resurfaced with a sharp criticism of the November 27 Malava by-election, accusing the government of using money to influence the voters’ will.
Speaking on Friday, November 28, Natembeya argued that the electoral process was interfered with by the government, warning that such tactics undermine Kenya’s democratic integrity.
"Money flowed freely in an attempt to substitute the people's will with financial coercion. These practices do not reflect a qualified government, they reflect a system afraid of the genuine democratic choice of the citizens of Malava," he said.
Natembeya went on to commend residents of Malava for standing firm despite what he described as an orchestrated attempt to intimidate them.
"Despite the hostile environment, the people showed courage; they came out, stood firm, and their hope was greater than the machinery employed against them. That spirit is a tribute to Malava," he added.
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Natembeya then questioned why such heavy-handed tactics were deployed in a single by-election, saying this raises fears about how future elections might be handled.
"We raise a fundamental question of concern; if the government must deploy such overwhelming force and financial inducements to influence a single by-election in Western, what does that mean for the credibility of future national elections?" he posed.
Natembeya affirmed that leaders aligned with him will continue defending democratic rights and pursuing lawful avenues to prevent similar incidents in the future.
"As leaders, we remain committed to defending the democratic rights of Kenya. We will pursue every lawful and constitutional avenue to ensure that what happened in Malava does not become a blueprint for future elections. Kenya's democracy belongs to its people, and no amount of pressure or state power will change that," he concluded.
Earlier Friday, Natembeya's candidate, Seth Panyako, claimed that the by-election results were manipulated against him.
In a statement on Friday, November 28, he alleged that he won in 134 out of 198 polling stations in Malava, claiming that votes were stolen in the other 54 polling centres.
"We won in 134 out of 198 Polling stations, but still they managed to manipulate and subvert the will of the people. They used 54 Polling stations to steal the elections," he claimed.
At the same time, Panyako thanked Malava Constituency residents who voted for him despite his loss in the by-election.
"Thank you, my Malava people, your love and trust in me has been steadfast. But to those wo subverted your will, judgment awaits them. Despite violence against us and attempts on my life, you stood firm. Our heads are still up," he added.
UDA's David Ndakwa won the by-election with a total of 21,564 votes, defeating Panyako, who garnered 20,210 votes.
Following his win, Ndakwa extended an olive branch to his competitors, calling for unity and collective service to the constituency.
Speaking after being declared the winner, the newly elected MP thanked his rivals and emphasized the need for collaborative leadership in Malava moving forward.
"To my worthy competitors, I want to thank you," Ndakwa stated, acknowledging the spirited contest that characterized the race.
Ndakwa attributed his victory to divine providence while calling for reconciliation among all aspirants.
"We need to have one leader in Malava, and this time round God has decided it is me, because leadership comes from God," he remarked.
The new MP urged his competitors to join forces with him in serving the people of Malava, emphasizing their shared commitment to the constituency's development.
"I urge them to come and work with me because our mutual interest was serving the people of Malava," Ndakwa said, adding, "Today it is me, and tomorrow it might be them."
Ndakwa also commended the media for their coverage of the by-election, describing it as fair and balanced throughout the campaign period.
"I want to thank the media team because I'm part of you, and thank you for the coverage and publicity. At no one time would I say it was unfair; you did a good job," he stated.
