Senator Boni Khalwale’s endorsement of DAP-K’s Seth Panyako in the Malava by-election is a masterstroke of political strategy with clear, calculated objectives. This move is less about Panyako alone and more about Khalwale fortifying his own political fortress and shaping the future of Kenya Kwanza in Western Kenya.
Khalwale’s primary target is not the usual rival, ODM, but the rising influence of the Democratic Congress Party (DCP). By throwing his weight behind Panyako, he aims to present a unified front that can split the Kenya Kwanza-friendly vote and decisively block the DCP, which he perceives as an external threat to his influence. His scathing attacks on the DCP are designed to paint them as illegitimate and rally voters around a “local” champion he can influence.
This endorsement is a clear power play. It demonstrates Khalwale’s intent to be the undisputed kingpin of the Kakamega senatorial region by determining who gets strategic support. The Malava race has now become a litmus test for his kingmaking abilities and his strategy to checkmate new political entrants, setting the stage for his broader ambitions in the 2027 general election.
