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UDA vs the bullfighter: Khalwale told to show cause
Then Deputy President William Ruto and Senator Boni Khalwale at a past function in 2015.
What you need to know:
- On the floor of the Senate, Dr Khalwale has morphed into a fierce critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
- He has accused President Ruto and his administration of denying Western Kenya development projects.
President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has initiated an expulsion bid against Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, in a move that is likely to see him fired as the Senate Majority Whip.
Mr Khalwale – accused of contradicting the party on several occasions – is targeted for openly supporting Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) candidate Seth Panyako against UDA’s David Ndakwa in the Malava by-election scheduled for November 27.
The ruling party on Tuesday wrote a stern show cause letter to Dr Khalwale, officially initiating a disciplinary proceeding that could see him expelled from the party.
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale.
If expelled, Dr Khalwale would cease being a member of UDA, consequently losing his seat in Parliament. This process, however, has a long-winding appeal mechanism that lawmakers have in the past exploited to remain in office.
Kenya Kwanza critic
The vocal lawmaker has been traversing the constituency in the company of DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, including when the party officials accompanied Mr Panyako to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) offices for clearance.
On the floor of the Senate, Dr Khalwale has morphed into a fierce critic of the Kenya Kwanza administration. He has on several occasions clashed with his Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot.
He has accused President Ruto and his administration of denying Western Kenya development projects, despite leaders from the region led by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula rallying locals to back Kenya Kwanza in the 2022 General Election.
According to UDA insiders, Dr Khalwale became a rebel following the impeachment of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in October 2024. Informally, they say he has been a marked man for months. The disciplinary proceedings, sources said, could just be a formality for an already pre-determined outcome.
In the show cause letter, UDA Disciplinary Committee Chairperson Charles Njenga said the ruling party has evidence of Dr Khalwale’s political activities, utterances and associations that are in total defiance of the party position.
“These include but are not limited to your open support and participation in the campaigns of a candidate from a different political party and who is competing with the UDA candidate in...Malava Constituency,” stated the letter.
“Your said participation and activities clearly demonstrate allegiance to another political party and which constitutes conduct unbecoming and disloyalty to the United Democratic Alliance Party...which nominated you for election to the office and position of Senator of Kakamega County.”
Dr Khalwale recently said that his decision to back Mr Panyako was because UDA refused to issue the late Malava MP Malulu Injendi’s son, Ryan, with a direct ticket. The lawmaker said that while the President appointed the late Baringo Senator William Cheptumo’s wife, Hanna, he did not appoint Malulu’s son to any state job.
The decision to discipline Dr Khalwale comes barely two days after Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and President Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, called for his sacking as the Senate Majority Whip.
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