IEBC declares DCP’s Malava candidate’s withdrawal null ahead of by-election
Voters in Malava will have the final say on Democracy for the Citizen Party (DCP) candidate Edgar Busiega, who withdrew from the parliamentary race to leverage the opposition’s chance at the November 27, 2025, by-election.
The election body IEBC says it cannot effect a candidate’s withdrawal from the election race after the time stipulated in the elections law expires, and dismissed as political rhetoric Busiega’s reported announcement.
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“As far as we are concerned, that is a rumour. Busiega’s name will be on the ballot come November 27, 2025, and if he wins, we declare him as such,” Malava constituency IEBC returning officer Salim Abdala told K24 digital on the phone on Friday, October 31, 2025.
Also watch: Edgar Busiega Mwanga speaks after withdrawing from Malava By-Election.
He explained that candidates cleared by the commission to vie for seats had up to October 11, 2025, to make changes.
“At the expiry of the time allowed, no candidate’s name can be expunged from the ballot paper.”
Busiega, who had been starved of campaign cash and pressured by the DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua to back out of the race in favour of a united opposition candidate, Seth Ambusini Panyako of the DAP-K, finally yielded on Thursday, October 30, 2025, and threw in the towel.
He drove to his political mentor and DCP deputy party leader Cleophas Malala’s Shikomari rural home in Navalholo constituency to announce to a partisan crowd that included Panyako.
The Malava contest
The decision to step down Busiega brought together Kakamega County’s two firebrand politicians, Malala and Panyako, who for tens of years shared fond memories of rivalry.
Malala floored Panyako in the 2017 Kakamega senatorial race and repeated the feat when he campaigned for the late MP Malulu Injendi against Panyako in the 2022 general election. Against odds in DCP and opposition ranks, he fronted Busiega.
Despite Busiega’s withdrawal from the race, the opposition in Malava remains a fragmented spectacle, and it remains to be seen if the latest action will firm up their act, as besides Busiega, Panyako also has Wilberforce Tuvei (Kenya Moja Movement) to deal with in the opposition.
Besides, Busiega, Panyako also has Wilberforce Tuvei (Kenya Moja Movement) to deal with in the opposition.
On Monday, November 3, 2025, UDA candidate David Ndakwa will face a baptism of fire when opposition party leaders Kalonzo Musyoka (WPK), Eugene Wamalwa (DAP-K), Martha Karua (People Liberation Party (PLP) and George Luchiri Wajackoya (Roots Party of Kenya) descend in Malava to campaign for Panyako.
