When the results for the Malava parliamentary seat were announced on Friday morning, declaring Mr David Athman Ndakwa the winner, it was not only a victory for him and his United Democratic Alliance Party.
The win also saved the political careers of senior politicians from the Western region, whose influence had ensured Mr Ndakwa emerged victorious.
The UDA Party candidate beat six other candidates, including his closest competitor, Seth Panyako of the Democratic Action Party of Kenya, to succeed the late Malulu Injendi as the fourth MP of Malava Constituency.
Other candidates were Wilberforce Tuvei (Kenya Moja), James Angatia, Shivakale Bruce Jason (EPP), Job Burudi Manyasi (Democratic National Alliance), Edgar Busiega Mwanga (Democracy for the Citizens Party), Benjamin Nalwa (National United Progressive Alliance), and George Oyugi.
Mr Ndakwa got 21,264 votes, beating Mr Panyako, who got 19,306 votes in the hotly contested by-election.
He contested in the Malava by-election on a UDA ticket after the Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi folded his Amani National Congress Party in favour of the ruling outfit.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi addressing the press in Kakamega on November 23, 2025 after Malava parliamentary aspirant Joab Manyasi stepped down in favour of UDA's David Ndakwa.
Photo credit: Isaac Wale | Nation Media Group
He was later endorsed by the Orange Democratic Movement Party in the spirit of broad-based government, an agreement between the two outfits to field one candidate in each by-election.
Mr Ndakwa's victory came as a major relief to Mr Mudavadi, who was under immense pressure to secure victory in the by-election.
The by-election was seen as a critical indicator for the political influence of leaders from the Western Region serving in President William Ruto's administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The team led by Mr Mudavadi comprised President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, Mr Moses Wetang’ula (National Assembly Speaker), Mr Wycliffe Oparanya (Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary), Susan Mang'eni (Principal Secretary, Small and Micro-Enterprises) and Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega Governor).
Prior to the by-elections, Mr Kibet pitched camp in Malava, conducting economic empowerment forums for women, youth and religious organizations to lure the voters into standing with the government's candidate.
He further consolidated clan elders in Malava into beneficial groups with incentives from the government.
And a day before the election date, the government distributed mattresses and blankets to the residents of Malava.
This move was meant to hold them alongside Mr Ndakwa and serve as proof to the people of Malava that President Ruto is a caring leader ahead of the by-election.
Mr Mudavadi announced that Simon Kangwana was appointed to serve as Education Attachee at the Kenyan embassy in Uganda, while Rhyan Injendi was named the Trade Attachee at the Kenyan Embassy in South Africa.
Earlier, another aspirant, Leonard Shimaka, was appointed a Commissioner of the Kenya Revenue Authority for a one-year term.
Mr Mudavadi emphasised that enormous development projects can be realized if leaders work with the government.
"The victory of Ndakwa has expanded the route of President Ruto to fulfil his promises to the ongoing development projects in Malava. The president has always kept his word and he won’t let you down," said Mr Mudavadi.
He added, "Electing a ruling party MP will enable the constituency to access government services more easily. An MP from the ruling party easily accesses government services because of proximity to the President and the government functionaries."
Mr Ndakwa's victory will likely define the power dynamics in the Western region, where Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and DCP Deputy Party Leader Mr Cleophas Malala have been wrestling to claim dominance.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula, DAP-K Deputy Party leader, who campaigned for Mr Ndakwa, said his victory was a clear indicator that Luhyas are united in the government.
"It shows that the opposition has no room in the Western region. We shall push them out of this region going into the 2027 elections," said Mr Savula.
But the United opposition did not leave empty-handed, winning some ward seats.
In Bungoma, an independent candidate, Eric Wekesa, an ally of Mr Natembeya, beat Ford Kenya's Vincent Maunda with 6,162 votes against 2,765, signalling the waning influence of Mr Wetangula in Bungoma.
Mr Aduda Okwiri of the DCP won the Kisa East Ward seat, registering a first win for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's new party.
Mr Okwiri got 1,952 votes, beating his closest rival, Joel Ongoro of Maendeleo Development Group, who managed 1,541 votes. UDA's James Shiraku registered 61 votes, while John Shikunyi recorded only 34 votes.
According to Mr Malala, a win for his party showed that Kenyans were accepting and adopting the new political outfit.
"UDA used a lot of money and influence to win all the seats, but the people of Khwisero decided that DCP was the party to associate with. Going forward into the 2027 General Elections, we shall have taken our roots deep and people will be in for a rude shock," said Mr Malala.
Speaking after he was handed his victory certificate, Mr Ndakwa offered an olive branch to his competitors.
"I thank the people of Malava for electing me out of all the candidates who had shown interest in replacing the late Malulu. I call upon my competitors to join me so that we can serve the interests of the people of Malava together. I will be a good listener and implement all projects that were initiated by the late Injendi before I begin my own," he said.
Born in 1973 in West Kabras, Mr Ndakwa attended Kalenda Primary School and sat for the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in 1987.
He then joined Samitsi Secondary School and sat for his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education in 1991.
Ndakwa proceeded to Moi University for a degree in Information Science and a diploma in Information Studies.
He was first elected as a Member of County Assembly in Kakamega in 2017 and extended the victory in 2022 to the ANC Party.
