Despite the mixed bag, opposition's base grows
Politics
By
Benard Lusigi
| Nov 29, 2025
The spirited fight by United Opposition leaders to stamp their authority in the Western region’s political matrix and consolidate their support is now paying off, following the mixed results in Thursday’s by-elections.
Campaigns in the Malava parliamentary seat, Kisa East ward in Kakamega County, and Chwele/Kabuchai in Bungoma County drew a political line and a flexing of muscles between the United Opposition and the broad-based government as both sides sought to marshal substantial support.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, DAP-K Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa and Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale launched an onslaught to unite the region and turned the by-elections into a political duel, stating that the outcome of the mini-polls would redefine the region’s political path ahead of the 2027 general election.
However, if the mixed results of the by-elections are anything to go by, the opposition’s support base is rapidly growing in the region. Observers believe Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetang’ula and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi have reason to worry following the results.
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In the Chwele/Kabuchai ward by-election in Kabuchai Constituency, Bungoma County, Wetang’ula is a man under siege after he was humiliated by a defeat to Eric Wekesa (Independent), who garnered 6,162 votes, trouncing FORD-Kenya’s Vincent Maunda, who secured 2,765.
Other candidates trailed behind: Raphael Mukolwe Namai of DNA collected 629 votes, Khatete Mumia of KANU garnered 200, and James Shiraku of UDA secured 61 votes. John Masetu Shikunyi of ODM received 34 votes, Douglas Shitote of UDP managed 49, and Stephen Amwayi Nyabuto of UDM got 8 votes. Pauline Uside of JFP registered 6 votes, while David Muchelule of the Agano Party earned 27.
Wekesa’s candidature was bolstered by the endorsement and support of the United Opposition and rebel leaders from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia, who have launched an onslaught against Wetang’ula.
These leaders include George Natembeya, former Bungoma governor Wycliffe Wangamati and Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, among others.
Kalasinga was elected on the FORD-Kenya ticket but has since fallen out with his party leader and chose to support the Independent candidate instead of Maunda, the party’s nominee.
In Malava Constituency, the spirited fight by the United Opposition yielded positive results after the DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako garnered 20,210 votes to come second behind the winner, UDA’s David Ndakwa, who received 21,564 votes.
This came even after the Opposition claimed that the government was employing state machinery to intimidate its supporters with the aim of rigging the poll.
In Kisa East ward, the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) performed impressively after clinching the ward by-election seat.
Little-known boda boda operator Aduda Okwiri of the DCP garnered 1,952 votes, trouncing his closest challenger, Joel Ongoro of MDG, who received 1,541 votes, while Abraham Ayaya of DAP-K came in third with 944 votes.
The results show the growing support of the opposition, considering this is the first by-election contest for the DCP party in a broad-based support base.
The outcome left Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka red-faced, as the ODM legislator had supported the MDG candidate Ongoro, who lost the election.
The DCP campaigns were spearheaded by its DPL Malala, who on Thursday said the party was making good progress in penetrating the region, urging locals to support his bid and join former DP Rigathi Gachagua’s party.
The by-election was held to fill the seat left vacant following the tragic death of former MCA Stephen Maloba, who was stabbed during a political rally in 2023 organised by MP Aseka.
The Malava by-election was marred by low voter turnout, violence, voter bribery, vandalism of property, hooliganism and intimidation claims.