Senatoer Khalwale rules out using UDA to contest for Kakamega gubernatorial seat

Senatoer Khalwale rules out using UDA to contest for Kakamega gubernatorial seat
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has come out to confirm that he will not vie for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party in 2027.
While addressing supporters at his Malinya home on Monday, July 13, 2025, the outspoken senator stated that the path to becoming governor through UDA is no longer viable.
“The path to becoming Kakamega Governor through UDA imefungwa; it’s not there,” Khalwale said.
He pointed to a recent instance when President William Ruto, during a visit to Kakamega, publicly praised Governor Fernandes Barasa—his main political opponent—and referred to him as a close ally.
This, according to Khalwale, cast serious doubt on whether the president would support his candidacy under UDA in the next election.
“Nikitegemea hiyo UDA ni Chama ya rais, mlimsikia akisema hadharani tukiwa equity bqnk, alisema ya kwamba yeye na Barasa ni Chanda na pete” Khalwale added.
He went on to call upon the President, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to support his 2027 gubernatorial bid.
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He reminded the president how he stood by him, took him to Western Kenya, and campaigned for him.
He also reminded Mudavadi how everyone abandoned him in 2013 when he contested the presidency, and how he was the only one who came out to support him. He told them that it is now their time to return the favour and support him in 2027.
In the same meeting, Khalwale also recalled how he was sidelined in the 2022 gubernatorial race, with then Senator Cleophas Malala being fronted as the UDA candidate, leaving him politically isolated.
He described the decision as a well-calculated political game that was played behind his back despite his early declaration of interest and grassroots mobilisation efforts.
“The president shortchanged me; wakaenda kwa siasa yao na mudavadi wakanitoa. All that is history,” Khalwale stated.
He narrated how, despite being instrumental in introducing President Ruto to the Luhya region and hosting some of the earliest strategy meetings at his home, he was ultimately left in the cold.
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