Malava By-election: Seth Panyako Claims His Life Is In Danger, Blames Ruto

Tension rose in Malava hours before Thursday’s by-election after DAP-K candidate Seth Panyako claimed there was an attempt to kill him.
Panyako accused senior political leaders of being involved in the incident, claiming an electoral officer told him there were instructions from William Ruto
The night clashes escalated when a Land Cruiser police car was allegedly forced open the hotel gate, paving the way for the intruders.
DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa condemned the attack, accusing the police of colluding with thugs to intimidate voters and influence the by-election.

Fear is growing ahead of the Malava by-election after Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K) candidate Seth Panyako claimed his life was in danger.

This followed a violent confrontation at night at his hotel, hours before residents voted on Thursday, November 27.

The incident, which he related directly to the President William Rutohas now escalated an already heated by-election into a national conversation about political violence, police brutality, and interference in election operations.

Also read

Live Reports of By-Elections: Opposition Complains of Vote Fraud As Elections Begin

According to Panyako, what started as an online warning about a possible police raid turned into a terrifying experience that led him to believe that the attack was planned to finish him off.

He claimed that he had been tipped off that officers intended to raid his hotel and arrest him for reasons unknown to him.

At first, he dismissed it as a rumor and even joked online that he was waiting for officials to file any charges they had.

“First I had information that the police were planning to raid our hotel. And I went on social media and said the police were planning to raid our hotel. Then I thought it was just a joke. So I said I’m here, I’m taking something, I’m waiting for the police,” claimed Panyako.

However, the former activist revealed that nothing happened until later that evening at around 8:30pm.

Panyako explained that he was at the hotel with his wife when he was informed that the politician Stanley Livondo had come out and wanted to see him.

He said he had never interacted with Livondo before, having only seen him from afar in past political events.

When Livondo mentioned his name, Panyako kept away while insisting that he is at home and will not go out to meet a stranger.

Also read

Newspapers: Inside Raila Odinga’s Secret Plan To Save Beryl Odinga’s Sister From Abuse

“I have never met Livondo. I have never greeted him. I have never actually met him, in my life. I only saw him. I used to see him drawing money from a chopper. But I have never been close to him. He called my name, he told me, come. And I told him, I can’t come,” said the hopeful Malava Member of Parliament.

Instead, he asked his aides to invite Livondo inside, but the politician allegedly refused to enter.

What followed raised more suspicions when Panyako’s team discovered Livondo’s license plates appeared to have been altered with black sellotape, changing the letters to cover up the original registration. He claimed that the same cars have been driving around the constituency without plates at all, allegedly for bribing and threatening voters.

Despite reporting these issues to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), he said no action was taken.

In an unexpected situation, Panyako revealed that during his conversation with the electoral officer of the constituency, he allegedly told him that the threats against him came from the top.

Panyako emphasized that the officer admitted there were orders “from William Ruto” to remove him so that he would not appear at the polls.

“When we got there, we must tell the truth. Salim, who is a lawyer for the Malava constituency, told me at one point that there is nothing he can do because there are orders from William Ruto to remove me so that I will not be on the ballot. Kibet It’s not about Livondo,” Panyako added.