DCP candidate for Malava MP seat Edgar Busiega Mwanga is handed the nomination certificate at the party headquarters on September 25, 2025. /DCPThe Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) has reaffirmed its commitment to contest the Malava parliamentary by-election scheduled for 27 November.
The seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent MP Malulu Injedi while receiving treatment at Aga Khan Hospital on Monday, 17 February.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has lined up the Malava poll alongside by-elections for the Baringo Senate seat, Banissa, Kasipul, Magarini, Mbeere North and Ugunja constituencies, as well as 17 ward seats.
DCP has pulled out of some of these contests to back allied parties, but deputy leader Cleophas Malala insisted on Thursday that the Malava race remains unchanged.
“We have not withdrawn any candidate, and I’m addressing this issue in relation to Malava constituency,” Malala said at party headquarters.
He acknowledged that DCP is part of a broader opposition alliance that encourages consensus in elections but added: “As it stands right now, we have not negotiated with any sister party.”
Malala stressed that if any compromise were to be made, DCP would not be the one stepping aside.
“So, this is an affirmation that the DCP party will be fielding a candidate in Malava constituency in the name of wakili Edgar Busiega Mwanga,” he declared, as he handed the nomination certificate to Lwanga.
He was flanked at the event by members of the party’s elections board, the head of the secretariat, the secretary general and several aspirants.
The announcement comes just a day after the DCP candidate for the Banisa by-election, Adan Mohamed Kiongozi, withdrew from the race in favour of UDA’s Ahmed Maalim following a meeting with President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi.
The party confirmed it would not replace him.
The new development comes just two weeks after party leader Rigathi Gachagua on September 10, announced that DCP would not field candidates in three by-elections as a gesture of goodwill to partner parties.
“For the sake of unity, we are making deliberate choices in areas previously held by our partners. This is not a sign of weakness but a commitment to the bigger picture,” Gachagua said.
He explained that under the united opposition’s push for unity ahead of the 2027 general election, which will culminate in a single presidential candidate, DCP would back the Democratic Party in Mbeere North, Wiper in the Muumbuni Ward by-election, and DAP-K in the Kabuchai/Chwele Ward, Bungoma county.
The decision, he said, was reached during a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Nairobi and was aimed at strengthening the opposition coalition’s chances against the ruling UDA.
However, Gachagua maintained that apart from these exceptions, DCP would field candidates in all other elective positions nationwide.
Malala confirmed that DCP will field candidates in 14 by-elections.
He asked the aspirants not to be intimidated by state machinery into withdrawing from the race, citing the Banisa case as an example.
"Remain steadfast, this is not a race for the faint-hearted," he said. "We are sure that we are going to win these seats and therefore nobody should intimidate you."
