The race for the Malava Constituency parliamentary seat has a dramatic and tragic turn on Friday, August 15, 2025, when Enock Andanje, a prominent United Democratic Alliance (UDA) aspirant, collapsed and died during a widows’ empowerment forum in Bungoma County.
The event, presided over by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, was halted abruptly as news of his passing was announced. Witnesses say Dr. Andanje, a respected former Bungoma High School principal, became unwell shortly after alighting from his vehicle. Despite urgent medical attention and being rushed to hospital, he was pronounced dead on arrival.
The cause of death remains under investigation, with a post-mortem expected in the coming days.
Second Loss in Six Months for Malava Seat
This marks the second death to affect the constituency’s leadership in under six months. The by-election scheduled for November 27, 2025, by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) was necessitated by the passing of sitting MP Malulu Injendi in February 2025.
Before his sudden demise, Dr. Andanje was a front-runner for the UDA ticket, competing alongside Ryan Injendi, Leonard Shimaka, Simon Kangwana, and David Ndakwa. UDA had pledged to conduct fair and transparent nominations to secure a strong candidate.
Political Shifts and High Stakes
Dr. Andanje’s death leaves UDA strategists recalibrating. The Malava seat is viewed as a critical test for Kenya Kwanza’s dominance in Western Kenya. Opposition parties are also however eyeing the opportunity as DCP has fielded Edgar Busiega Mwanga while DAP-K has nominated Seth Panyako.
As campaigns gear up, this by-election is set to be one of the most closely watched in the country, with unpredictable twists expected before voters head to the polls in November.
