Malava By-Election: Panyako Breaks Down as Family and Staff Suffer Brutal Attacks Ahead of Poll
Panyako, who has been on the campaign trail for weeks, faced what he described as coordinated intimidation
By : Mweru Mbugua
DAP-Kenya’s Malava Constituency candidate Seth Panyako was overcome with emotion at a polling station moments after casting his vote, following a series of violent incidents targeting his family and staff on the eve of the by-election
Panyako, who has been on the campaign trail for weeks, faced what he described as coordinated intimidation
He claimed that senior government operatives, including President William Ruto’s personal assistant Farouk Kibet, stormed his hotel the previous night, allegedly threatening to torch the premises
Hours later, his gatekeeper, driver, and family members were reportedly assaulted by unidentified attackers
The victims sustained serious injuries and were rushed to hospital. Panyako’s vehicle was also allegedly set ablaze during the night-long chaos
The shaken candidate had to be consoled by DAP-Kenya leader Eugene Wamalwa and other officials as he recounted the traumatic events
A separate video circulating online showed a man being brutally beaten while confessing under unclear circumstances to participating in an alleged vote-rigging scheme in favour of Panyako’s opponent
Also read : Kombe Concedes Magarini By-Election Defeat, Alleges IEBC Bias
Despite the turmoil, DAP-Kenya confirmed that Panyako was arrested early Thursday
The party strongly condemned what it termed a calculated attempt to intimidate and destabilise their candidate
“Our candidate, Hon. Seth Kuka Panyako, has been arrested, and we strongly condemn this act of intimidation aimed at interfering with the democratic process,” the party said in a statement
“We urge our supporters to remain calm and vigilant as we seek clarification from the relevant authorities”
More updates are expected as the situation unfolds
