Frequent visits by President Ruto’s private secretary, Farouk Kibet, to Malava constituency have sparked political unrest and suspicion among political leaders and locals barely three months after the death of MP Malulu Injendi.
Kibet, a close confidant of Injendi, has made four visits to the constituency since his death in February. While his allies claim he is simply paying respects and gauging the political atmosphere, many residents and aspirants view his activities as an attempt to influence the outcome of the upcoming by-election.
During his most recent appearance at a Thanksgiving ceremony in Kimang’eti, Kibet was accompanied by prominent figures, including Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka and leaders from Kakamega County. This has further fuelled speculation that his visits are politically motivated.
Tension flared earlier when Kibet launched a scathing attack on Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, accusing him of interfering in Malava’s politics, which is outside his jurisdiction. Kibet’s increasingly bold forays have triggered backlash from locals who question his role, given that he is neither a resident of Malava nor holds a known party or government position relevant to the region.
Tension is compounded by the vacuum left by the now-defunct Amani National Congress (ANC), Malulu’s party. ANC has since been absorbed into President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which is now struggling to maintain support in the constituency. Voters wary of external influence have openly warned against any candidate perceived as a “Farouk project,” a label that could severely damage UDA’s chances.
More than 30 aspirants have already declared interest in the seat, among them are former Kenya School of Government lecturer Caleb Sunguti, who has secured a Roots Party ticket, Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) official Seth Panyako, senior police officer Nelson Shilunji Taliti, and Injendi’s son, Ryan Injendi.
Malava has historically been a stronghold of Musalia Mudavadi, but in 2022, it gave President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza coalition the highest number of votes in Kakamega County. However, the ongoing perception of interference threatens to alienate the electorate.
As the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) prepares to announce the by-election date, it is unclear whether UDA can recover lost ground or if the local backlash against Farouk Kibet’s presence will tilt the scales in favour of rival candidates.
