As Malawi stands on the brink of a dramatic political shift, the country’s fiercely contested 2025 elections have sent shockwaves not only through its own political landscape but across the region. With preliminary results suggesting a stunning upset for incumbent President Lazarus Chakwera and a potential comeback for 85-year-old former President Peter Mutharika, the implications are being closely watched far beyond Malawi’s borders. In Kenya, opposition leaders are already invoking the Malawian example as a warning—and perhaps a rallying cry—for their own political future.
On Thursday, September 18, 2025, the People’s Liberation Party (PLP) of Kenya, led by Martha Karua, took to X (formerly Twitter) to draw a direct line between Malawi’s unfolding election results and Kenya’s path ahead. The party’s message was blunt: “Happening Now in Malawi, Wantam is Real! The people have spoken, and Chakwera is out after just one term. Accountability through the ballot. Kenya, we’re next. Trust the process.” The post, accompanied by an image of preliminary results showing Mutharika leading with 58 percent to Chakwera’s 22 percent, captured the imagination of many Kenyans following the regional trend of holding leaders accountable at the ballot box, as reported by People Daily.
The Malawi Electoral Commission (MEC) reported it had received about 98 percent of results from the September 16 elections, with the final tallies still pending. The MEC has until September 24 to announce the official outcome. The vote, held under the shadow of 30 percent inflation and persistent fuel shortages, saw thousands of Malawians queuing to cast their ballots for president, MPs, and local councillors. The stakes were high: Chakwera, who assumed office in 2020, now faces the prospect of a single-term presidency, while Mutharika, whose political career many thought over, appears poised for an unexpected return to power.
But the drama hasn’t been limited to the candidates. The strain of overseeing these hotly contested elections turned tragic on Thursday night when Clement Chikankha, a Constituency Returning Officer (CRO), attempted to take his own life after reportedly failing to deliver on his duties. According to Nyasa Times, the incident occurred around 10 p.m. at the Nkhoma sewage dam. Chikankha, a 53-year-old Primary Education Advisor from Chalera Village, Dedza District, phoned a colleague, Donnex Kunthani, to confess, “I have failed to deliver well” in his position as CRO and had resolved to end his life. Kunthani and others rushed to the dam and found Chikankha struggling in the sewage water. He was rescued and taken to Nkhoma Mission Hospital, where he remains in fair condition. Police have classified the matter as Attempted Suicide under case reference LL/CR/54/08/25.
The episode shines a harsh spotlight on the immense pressure facing electoral officials as the MEC continues to receive, reconcile, and verify results from across the country. The elections have been highly contentious, with both the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) and Malawi Congress Party (MCP) claiming strength in key districts. Civil society and international observers have urged patience, while the MEC has stressed that only it has the mandate to declare final results after full verification. Analysts warn that CROs, who serve as frontline officials in collating constituency-level results, are bearing the brunt of disputes, allegations of fraud, and public scrutiny. Chikankha’s ordeal is a stark reminder of the human cost of Malawi’s high-stakes elections.
Meanwhile, in Kenya, Martha Karua and her PLP have seized on events in Malawi to amplify their own campaign for electoral accountability. For months, the party has been championing the “Wantam” slogan, a call for voters to hold leaders accountable after a single term if they fail to deliver on promises. Karua and her team have used rallies, social media, and press briefings to popularize the phrase, framing it as a homegrown movement for political renewal across Kenya. The message is clear: if leaders don’t perform, voters should not hesitate to replace them at the next opportunity.
Karua’s campaign isn’t just about catchy slogans. In a pointed interview on September 5, 2025, she accused President William Ruto’s administration of deliberately fostering insecurity to distract from governance failures. She cited the presence of Jubaland forces in Mandera County, questioning, “How on earth would you allow forces from Jubaland to occupy parts of Mandera, causing havoc and committing atrocities… and keep quiet?” Karua’s criticism extended to Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and the National Security Council for what she described as inaction in the face of foreign troops operating unchecked and displacing residents. Her frustration was palpable as she added, “You talk of advisers; Ruto is his own adviser. He is also the head of every ministry; everybody else is ceremonial,” further claiming that the Attorney General’s office has become purely symbolic.
Karua also voiced skepticism about President Ruto’s talks with Azimio leaders, dismissing them as rushed and lacking in genuineness—a stance she reiterated in early September. Her criticisms reflect a broader sentiment among opposition figures and some segments of the Kenyan public who are disillusioned with what they see as a lack of meaningful accountability and transparency in government.
Back in Malawi, the pressure cooker environment continues to escalate as the country waits for the MEC to announce final results. Both the DPP and MCP are holding their breath, with supporters on edge and international observers keeping a close watch on the process. The incident involving Chikankha has prompted renewed calls for better support for electoral officials, who are often caught in the crossfire of political disputes and public expectations.
For many in Kenya, the events unfolding in Malawi are more than just distant news. They are seen as a possible harbinger of change in their own country, where the idea of “Wantam”—one term, then accountability—has gained traction among those frustrated by unfulfilled promises and persistent governance challenges. Karua’s PLP is betting that the regional winds of change will blow across the border, ushering in a new era of political accountability in Kenya.
As Malawi’s electoral drama enters its final act, the region is watching closely. The outcome will not only determine the country’s next leader but could also inspire a wave of political renewal across East Africa, where the call for accountability at the ballot box is growing louder by the day.
