Church leaders from Uasin Gishu held interdenominational prayers for Malava UDA candidate David Ndakwa to bless his bid ahead of the November 27 by-election.
The prayers were held at Chepsaita in Turbo, an area that borders Malava, and were organised as a gesture of neighbourliness and political solidarity between communities of the Rift Valley and Western Kenya.
The Malava parliamentary seat fell vacant following the nullification of the 2022 election results, prompting a fresh contest that has attracted nine candidates.
Ndakwa will face his main challenger, Seth Panyako of DAP-K, who is running under the banner of the United Opposition coalition.
The race has been framed as a contest between the governing Kenya Kwanza Alliance and the opposition, with both sides viewing Malava as a strategic entry point into the larger Kakamega voting bloc.
President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet with UDA candidate for Malava David Ndakwa during the prayer meeting at Chepsaita in Uasin Gishu/MATHEWS NDANYINdakwa expressed confidence that he would win the seat, arguing that his opponents had no clear development agenda for the constituency.
He urged residents to back him so he could work closely with the national government.
“I will defeat my opponents early on November 27 so that we can immediately start working with the government to develop Malava,” he said.
Clergymen prayed for Ndakwa at the event attended by President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, MPs from Western and Rift Valley, and other UDA leaders.
The MPs urged Malava voters to elect Ndakwa, saying his victory would strengthen political cooperation between the two regions.
Ndakwa thanked President Ruto, Farouk and the MPs for supporting his campaign, saying teamwork would deliver victory.
He will face eight other contestants, including Panyako, who has promised to rally the opposition vote and position Malava as a frontline constituency resisting government influence.
Bishops led by Rev William Kebenei of the AIC Church praying for UDA candidate for Malava David Ndakwa at Chepsaita in Uasin Gishu county/MATHEWS NDANYI The event also included prayers and dedication of the venue for the December 6 Great Chepsaita Cross Country race, where Farouk serves as patron.
He praised leaders from Western Kenya who are backing President Ruto and rejected what he called “tribal political camps” in the opposition.
“We have many good leaders in Western like Bishop Khamala and Wangwe who have refused to join tribal groupings and are supporting President Ruto,” said Farouk.
MPs Malulu Injendi and Titus Khamala during the prayers at Chepsaita in Uasin Gishu county/MATHEWS NDANYIKhamala said Ruto’s development record in Western Kenya had shifted political attitudes.
“If you go to Kakamega now, many residents are talking about two terms for Ruto,” he said.
Farouk also encouraged Kenyans to register for the Social Health Authority (SHA) and warned officials against mismanaging health funds.
He criticised the state of some Uasin Gishu hospitals, saying residents should not lack essential drugs when the health fund is well resourced.
Khamala closed the meeting by leading
residents in chanting the “two terms” slogan in support of President Ruto.
President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet with church leaders during groundbreaking and prayers at Chepsaita as part of preparations for the Great Chepsaita race set for December 6, 2025/MATHEWS NDANYI
