The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) appears to be using its recent by-election victories as a springboard to enforce party discipline, issuing stern warnings to members who supported rival candidates.
At a media briefing on Friday, November 28, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar challenged disloyal members to step aside if they believe they are popular enough to contest elections independently.
“If you think you’re that popular, resign like Raila Odinga once did and face us in a contest,” Omar said, signalling a no-tolerance stance for internal dissent.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, who publicly backed DAP-K’s Seth Panyako over UDA’s David Ndakwa in the Malava parliamentary by-election, appears to be the primary target of this crackdown. Khalwale argued that Panyako better represented the interests of Malava residents, a move that the UDA leadership viewed as disloyal.
Despite warnings from UDA’s disciplinary committee in October 2025 over alleged misconduct, Khalwale continued to campaign for Panyako. He defended his actions, stating that he was exercising his freedom of choice and dared UDA to remove him from his position as Senate majority whip.
“They are forcing me to take a stand against my community for a mere position. I cannot betray my house because of positions,” Khalwale said. He also indicated plans to contest the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in 2027 under a different party, signaling a potential realignment in local politics.
David Ndakwa of UDA ultimately won the Malava by-election with 21,564 votes, narrowly defeating Panyako, who garnered 20,210 votes. The win, declared by IEBC returning officer Salim Abdalla on November 28, has bolstered UDA’s position in the region and provided momentum for the party to assert its authority over members.
At the briefing, UDA also celebrated its nationwide by-election performance while taking aim at opposition parties, which Secretary General Omar dismissed as “village parties” for securing only a few county assembly seats. Omar further criticised Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua for what he described as attempts to intimidate independent institutions, including the IEBC and police, urging adherence to the Constitution.