Malava MP aspirant Seth Panyako has raised alarms over what he described as an attempt to intimidate him at a hotel in Kakamega, claiming that unidentified individuals planned a police raid that never happened.
He further accused political rivals of deploying numerous vehicles to threaten voters and alleged that senior state officials were seeking to remove him from the Malava parliamentary race.
Speaking to the media on Thursday, Panyako said he had received prior information that police were preparing to raid his hotel without presenting any legal documents. “When police comes, he will access your premises, and show you search warrants,” he said, insisting, “the police didn’t show up.”
He recounted that the incident occurred around 8:30 a.m. while he was with his wife inside the hotel. “I was with my wife, I was inside the hotel, seated, I was informed that Stanley Livondo has arrived, and he wanted to see me,” he said. According to Panyako, Livondo called from the hotel door, but he refused to meet him. “I have never met him, nor greet Livondo in my life,” he said claimed.
Panyako claims Livondo insisted he come outside, but he refused, stating, “I told him I can’t come, I’m in hotel, this hotel is mine, so I’m in my home.” He instructed his assistant to ask Livondo to enter instead, but the visitor declined.
Panyako also alleged that Livondo’s vehicle had its number plate concealed, explaining, “He had actually blocked his number plate, he had put a black seal tape.” His team questioned the unusual concealment, with Panyako noting, “My people told him to look at his vehicle, why has the number plate been blocked?”
He accused unnamed political actors of employing similar tactics across the constituency.
“You know they have been moving around with numberless vehicles, bribing people, threatening people, causing violence,” he said, adding that he had reported these incidents to the IEBC “many times and nothing has happened.”
He insisted that the alleged threats originated from the highest political office.
Panyako did not provide additional documents or evidence during the briefing but said the morning’s events confirmed his concerns about interference and intimidation. Despite the alleged threats, he pledged to continue his campaign. “I will not withdraw from the race,” he said, vowing to push on with his bid for Malava parliamentary seat.
The by-elections scheduled by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) follow a series of parliamentary and local seat vacancies across Kenya. Malava Constituency became vacant after the death of MP Moses Malulu Injendi earlier this year.
Other seats fell vacant due to deaths, nullified elections, or appointments to the Cabinet.
Among them are Magarini Constituency, where Harrison Kombe’s election was nullified; Banisa Constituency, after former MP Kullow Hassan Aden died in March 2023; Ugunja, following Opiyo Wandayi’s appointment as Energy Cabinet Secretary; Mbeere North, with Geoffrey Ruku’s Cabinet appointment; and Kasipul, where Charles Ong’ondo Were was assassinated in April 2025.
