Sibling rivalry, political witch hunt, and witchcraft are being pointed out as possible causes of the death of Malava United Democratic Alliance (UDA) aspirant Dr. Enock Andanje.

The celebrated teacher collapsed and died during a widows’ empowerment function at Bulupi Primary School attended by President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

But who wanted Dr Andanje dead? This is the question on the minds of many even as a postmortem is set to be carried out to put the matter to rest.

According to his widow, Alice Were, the former Bungoma High School chief principal had no known medical condition that threatened his life.

On the day he left home for the function, she revealed, he was a jovial and healthy man ready to face the political task ahead.

Whether doctors will eventually point to a medical condition or not, the public may not easily accept and believe the results.

Many, including politicians, are already pointing fingers, convinced his death could have been orchestrated.

A source within the clan, who has sought anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, intimated that when Dr Andanje was endorsed by the Abatovo clan, it was taboo for any other person to receive similar blessings for the same seat.

The later decision by a section of clan elders to bless Kenya National Union of Nurses Secretary General (Knun) Seth Panyako, was an abomination with far-reaching implications, the source added.

According to them, Dr Andanje’s death cannot be dismissed, as oath-taking was involved.

Further he claims that Panyako’s delay in visiting either the home of the deceased or the mortuary to view the body and condole with the bereaved family raises eyebrows.

His decision to issue controversial condolences at a press conference instead, despite his home being about two kilometres from the late Andanje’s, has drawn tough questions as well.

The Malava by-election is a do-or-die contest for many candidates, and the source believes Panyako was uncomfortable with Andanje’s candidature, “as he was eating into what Panyako considers his Abatovo vote bloc.”

Another version points to rivalry within the UDA party itself, where four aspirants are battling for the ticket.

Those eyeing the UDA ticket include ex-principal Simon Kangwana, Kabras West MCA David Ndakwa, advocate Leonard Shimaka and Rhyan Injendi, the late MPs son.  

A source has claimed that Kangwana felt Dr Andanje was being favoured for the ticket by Kibet a thing that had infuriated him.

Before Dr Andanje collapsed at Bulupi, Kangwana had allegedly mobilised youths to heckle him at a Malava town rally to portray him as a weak candidate.

As Dr Andanje headed to Bulupi, he may have been under immense political pressure, not knowing whether the same hecklers would target another perceived favourite, Ndakwa, who played host at the function.

On the eve of the event, it was also claimed that a man believed to be a witch was spotted naked at the venue, allegedly performing rituals.

It remains unclear whether the act was politically motivated or linked to a local MCA.

Was Dr Andanje eliminated by rival UDA aspirants, or did he die of a natural medical condition? This is the lingering question among Malava voters.