Twenty aspirants line up to vie for late Malulu's vacant seat
Just two weeks after the burial of the late Malava MP Moses Malulu Injendi, the race to fill his seat is already gaining momentum.
Even before the National Assembly officially declares the position vacant and the yet-to-be-formed electoral commission sets a by-election date, at least 23 aspirants have already emerged as potential contenders.
The discussion on who will succeed Malulu began even before his burial, sparked by Gem MP Elisha Odhiambo during a requiem mass at St. Catherine of Alexandria Catholic Church in South C, Nairobi.
Odhiambo raised the question regarding Injendi's successor.
“This man lying here spent his money to win this seat. He had not completed his term when he passed away. To avoid costly campaigns, why not allow his family to choose his successor?”
His remarks ignited a heated debate and intense lobbying in the populous constituency over who should take over the seat left vacant by the late third-term legislator.
On March 4, during Malulu’s burial at his homestead, Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary-General Francis Atwoli backed Odhiambo’s sentiments, further fueling the conversation.
Although the late legislator’s family has yet to make an official statement on the matter, there is speculation that his eldest son, Ryan Injendi, an employee of the Parliamentary Service Commission may join the race.
According to reports others who intend to vie for the seat include, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary-General Seth Panyako, lawyer Edgar Busiega Mwanga, and former Kenya School of Government (KSG) lecturer and project planning consultant Caleb Sunguti.
Senior Assistant Inspector-General of Police Nelson Shilunji Taliti, former Malava Boys’ High School Principal Daniel Mwachi, activist Caleb Burudi, Dr. Enock Andanje, trade unionist and security expert Enock Makanga, are also said to be interested in the seat.
However, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has yet to announce the by-election date for Malava, along with two other parliamentary seats and several county assembly positions nationwide.