Malava election loser Mr. Seth Panyako has told Radio Maisha that he still won the by-election by a bigger margin against the State despite all that he had to go through during the volatile exercise.
Panyako noted that the margin difference in votes between him and UDA candidate David Ndakwa was astronomical and wider than it was in 2017 against the late Malulu Injendi.
Mr. Panyako said, though, he had to endure voter apathy because of open and all-round State intimidation, attacks and blatant ballot stuffing, he still believes that he won the exercise and thanked the people of Malava for trusting in him once more.
The vocal unionist added that he was brutally attacked, his driver aimed and shot at by goons, the police and gunmen hired by the State. All these happened to make sure he doesn’t take the seat which he fairly deserved.
According to Panyako, the William Ruto-led administration preferred him dead or rather take a Cabinet position than the Malava Constituency leadership position which he had attracted immense support from the area residents.
“I was even called by someone close to the System who told me that the final plan was now to eliminate me. He, therefore, advised me to make sure I leave the County immediately during the votting exercise,” Panyako also claimed.
The politician accused his rival winner David Ndakwa, Mumias-based Rashid Echesa, activist Stanley Livondo, and Lugari Constituency MP Nabii Nabwera of having been funded to frustrate his votes in the area.
“This team was funded and instructed to do whatever it takes to steal my victory. Luckily, we have the figures which always don’t lie,” he further argued.
He stated that the ugly night attacks on his life and inside his Downhill Hotel at Kaburengu junction saw his supporters fear for their lives as many decided to keep off the exercise completely.
Panyako, who emerged number two, observed that the whole electoral exercise was compromised with senior IEBC officials and agents from both sides being bribed with as much as Ksh 15k each on the eve of votting.
Furthermore, the DAP-KENYA candidate reported that, already, they had established that, atleast, 9 votting stations had been compromised to bungle ballot figures in favour of Mr. Ndakwa. He, therefore, pointed at a possibility of heading to the courts to overturn the decision made on Nov 28.
Ndakwa beat Panyako by not more than 2000 votes to emerge the winner. He has since been sworn-in as the fully recognized Member of Parliament for Malava.
President William Ruto who is his party leader described this as ‘Broad-based’ fruits.