The Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) has officially awarded Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary-General Seth Panyako its ticket to contest the Malava parliamentary seat.
The ticket was presented to Panyako during a brief ceremony at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi, where DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa expressed confidence in his candidacy.
“We have no doubt that Seth Panyako will emerge as a strong candidate,” Wamalwa said.
Wamalwa also used the occasion to encourage youth participation in the upcoming voter registration exercise by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), scheduled to begin on September 29.
“We have a date with destiny on the 29th of this month when IEBC begins continuous voter registration. We urge young people to come out in large numbers to register,” he added.
However, Panyako’s nomination has been challenged.
Fellow aspirant Caleb Burudi, through a letter filed by Okubasu & Munene Advocates, questioned his eligibility, arguing that Panyako failed to resign from public office within the timeframe required under the Elections Act.
Burudi claimed that Panyako’s continued service as a board member of the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFUND) past the August 15 deadline contravened election regulations.
The law requires public officers seeking elective positions to resign within seven days of a parliamentary seat being declared vacant.
Burudi asked DAP-K to revoke Panyako’s nomination on those grounds.
In response, Panyako dismissed the challenge, maintaining that his position at LAPFUND does not constitute holding a public office.
“LAPFUND is not a state corporation, and serving on its board does not make me a public officer,” he said.
Panyako vowed to remain in the race unless a court rules otherwise, affirming his commitment to representing the people of Malava in Parliament.
