Seth Panyako is back in the political spotlight as he makes a second bid for the Malava parliamentary seat in a by-election. This follows the death of former Member of Parliament (MP) Moses Malulu Injendi on 17 February 2025. The by-election is scheduled for Thursday, 27 November 2025, and will see Panyako face off against Rhyan Injendi, the eldest son of the late MP. He is running under the Democratic Action Party – Kenya (DAP-K) ticket.

Panyako previously contested the Malava seat in the 2022 general election under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) but was defeated by the ANC’s Malulu Injendi. He later challenged the result in court, though unsuccessfully. Following the election, he publicly expressed frustration with his party, accusing UDA of sidelining him despite his role in mobilising support for President William Ruto in Western Kenya. Panyako also claimed he was offered a Cabinet Secretary position but declined, choosing instead to continue his work at the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN).

In 2023, Panyako resigned as UDA’s Deputy Chairperson in charge of programmes, claiming he was pressured to step down and denied a chance to defend himself before the party’s disciplinary committee. His resignation followed criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration for failing to address the high cost of living and for introducing the controversial 3% housing levy. He also accused senior government officials of meddling in the operations of the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFUND) pension scheme, where he serves as a board member. He alleged extortion and described the interference as an example of state capture.

Forty-year-old Panyako was born on 5 May 1985. He is a nurse by profession and has been serving as the Secretary-General of the Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) since 2013. He studied at the University of Eastern Africa, Baraton, where he completed a Bachelor of Science degree in Nursing in 2001. He credits Dr. Cheasse Fonda for his education, who was so impressed by his O-Level results that he decided to sponsor his secondary education. Dr. Fonda first identified Panyako, who was working as a dishwasher at the university cafeteria. 

After finishing his studies, Panyako briefly worked as a nurse at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). Notably, in 2020, he led a nationwide call for nurses to down tools after the Salaries and Remuneration Commission claimed the government could not meet their demands.