Simon Kangwana Eyes Malava MP Seat | UDA Nomination Race in Spotlight. Kivaywa High School principal Simon Kangwana’s entry into Malava politics is shaking up the UDA race. Will the educationist turn politician outshine seasoned contenders?.
Malava, Kakamega County – The political ground in Malava constituency is experiencing tremors following the entry of Simon Chimuche Kangwana, the principal of Kivaywa High School, into the race to succeed the late MP Moses Malulu Injendi.
Kangwana’s announcement has disrupted the political arithmetic in the constituency, drawing attention not only for his boldness in joining politics as a serving educator, but also for the growing support he appears to be receiving from grassroots voters.
Despite resistance from some political players who argue that a public servant should not be engaging in active politics, Kangwana remains unshaken. He has openly declared that he is ready to resign from his position in education and devote himself fully to serving the people of Malava.
“I have made up my mind. My calling is now to serve the people of Malava at a higher level, and I’m ready to leave my teaching career behind,” said Kangwana.
A celebrated educationist, Kangwana has built a formidable reputation in Kakamega County through his transformative leadership in the schools he has managed. He began his career at Namagara Secondary School in Manda/Shivanga Ward, before moving to Friends School Bulupi Secondary in West Kabras Ward, where he significantly raised academic standards and improved infrastructure.
It was during his time at Bulupi that the school made headlines by sending the highest number of students to university in the institution’s history.
Now, Kangwana wants to replicate this impact in the political sphere. He promises to prioritize education and youth empowerment, particularly by ensuring that every bright but needy student in Malava accesses full scholarships to pursue their dreams.
“No child should drop out of school because of poverty. Education lifted me, and I believe it will lift many more if we invest in it meaningfully,” he emphasized.
Kangwana is also keen on tackling the growing crisis of youth unemployment, which remains one of the biggest challenges in Malava. He says, if elected, he will leverage networks at national and international levels to link youth to job opportunities and skills training programs.
Despite his lack of political experience, Kangwana’s meteoric rise is causing jitters among seasoned aspirants. Within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), which is expected to play a central role in the upcoming by-election, Kangwana has quickly emerged as a frontrunner for the party’s ticket.
He will be battling it out with other hopefuls including:
- Leonard Shimaka, a prominent lawyer;
- David Ndakwa, the West Kabras MCA;
- Enock Andanje, principal of Bungoma High School;
- Rhyan Injendi, son of the late MP.
However, many insiders believe that Kangwana’s grassroots appeal, clean track record, and fresh perspective make him the candidate to watch.
“The ground is shifting in Kangwana’s favour. His message resonates with the common mwananchi,” said a UDA official familiar with the campaign dynamics.
This has intensified calls within Malava for the UDA party to conduct open nominations to ensure fairness. Political analysts warn that any attempt to impose a candidate could backfire and cost the party dearly in the by-election.
“UDA must tread carefully. The people of Malava are politically aware. Any move to bypass nominations could divide the base and hand the seat to a rival party,” noted political commentator Martin Barasa.
As the campaign trail heats up, the big question remains: Will Kangwana’s success in the classroom translate to political victory? Or will the murky waters of politics swallow yet another newcomer?
Only time will tell. But for now, all eyes are on Malava—and on Simon Kangwana, the principal-turned-politician whose star is rising fast.
