The Malava Parliamentary by-election has taken a dramatic turn after Returning Officer Salim Abdalla dismissed the withdrawal of Democratic Congress Party (DCP) candidate Edgar Busiega. In a statement issued on Wednesday, November 5, Abdalla clarified that Busiega had not followed the due process required for official withdrawal from the race.
According to Abdalla, neither Busiega nor the DCP had submitted a formal notice of withdrawal to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). As a result, Busiega remains a legitimate candidate and will appear on the ballot when voters head to the polls on November 27.
This development comes despite a public announcement by the DCP on October 30, declaring that Busiega had stepped down in favor of Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) candidate Seth Panyako. The move was part of a broader strategy by the United Opposition coalition to rally behind a single candidate.
“We now have one candidate in the upcoming by-election,” DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa stated at the time, expressing confidence that Panyako would secure victory. However, the IEBC regulations stipulate that any withdrawal must be submitted in writing to the returning officer at least three days before the election, signed by the candidate, and accompanied by official identification.
The Malava parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of MP Moses Malulu Injendi on February 17 after a period of illness.
With Busiega still in the race, the contest is set to be highly competitive. Other candidates include UDA’s David Ndakwa, who enjoys the backing of the ODM party, Caleb Sunguti of the Roots Party, and Joab Manyasi representing the Democratic National Alliance (DNA).
The IEBC’s final decision to retain Busiega’s name on the ballot has injected fresh uncertainty into an already heated race.
