Why UDA wants Senator Khalwale removed as Majority Chief Whip

President William Ruto's aid Farouk Kibet has said the ruling party Inited Democratic Alliance (UDA) will remove Senator Boni Khalwale as Senate’s Majority Whip.

Farouk on Sunday said the party was concerned at how Khalwale has opted to support an opposition candidate in the forthcoming Malava parliamentary by-election.

As a result, Farouk and UDA Vice Chairperson Kelvin Lunani said the party will write a motion to oust Khalwale as its Majority Chief Whip.

Farouk spoke at an event attended by Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and a host of leaders allied to a broad-based government.

"When we signed a coalition agreement under the Kenya Kwanza coalition, we agreed that the Western region would get a 30 per cent share of the government, both appointments and development. One of the 30 per cent shares was the appointment of Senator Khalwale as the majority chief whip in the Senate," said Lunani.

He added, "I am seeing Khalwale playing around with the 30 per cent as a majority chief whip. I want to ask our Mudavadi as he talks with the President over the matter; as a vice chairman, I am going to write a letter to the Senate to replace the Kakamega Senator so that we can give the position to a person who is ready to bring development to his or her people."

READ: Khalwale warns of waning support for President Ruto in Western

On Friday, while attending a fundraising drive for local artists in Webuye, Bungoma County, Farouk questioned Khalwale’s loyalty to the party, revealing a plot to replace him with Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli.

"I have seen someone joking around with the chief whip position. I can see this young man (Wakoli) growing into a good leader in the future, and in the next two to three weeks, with the shenanigans someone is doing, Wakoli will come back home with a government vehicle to bring developments to his people," said Farouk.

Farouk said it was hypocritical and unfair for Khalwale to continue moving around in government resources while insulting his party and government.

"Khalwale keeps on talking about Farouk, everything, instead of helping his people with development. Insults will not bring development, whether they are directed to me or to the government, and yet the Senator is moving with many bodyguards and state vehicles while disrespecting the party that supported him," said Khalwale.

For the last few months, Khalwale has been a vocal critic of the government, especially of its policies and programmes he termed as untenable for the people.

However, in the last month, Senator Khalwale, who is a UDA lawmaker, has come out boldly and openly to support Seth Panyako, a DAP-K candidate in the opposition for the Malava mini poll, instead of David Ndakwa, who is a UDA candidate they both belong to.

Khalwale accused President William Ruto and his regime of sidelining the Western region in development despite voting for him in the 2022 general election.

On the Malava seat, Khalwale has teamed up with DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, Mumias East MP Peter Salasya and other opposition leaders in view of defeating a UDA candidate.

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Senator Khalwale said the mini-poll is to restore the dignity of the region.

"The President is my party leader, and I want to tell you not to forget where you come from because Panyako and I are the ones who helped you popularise UDA in Western. I am pleading with you, Mr President, do not be misled by Mudavadi because he is lying to you," said Khalwale.

He added, 'Mudavadi never helped the people of Malava when he was the minister, but the late Soita Shitanda and I have helped the area, and therefore this is a by-election that is going to redefine the politics and destiny of the Luhya people.'

Khalwale vowed to trounce President Ruto and Gachagua's candidates in the upcoming Malava by-election.

Khalwale's entry is set to cause political jitters and complicate arithmetic within the government and United Opposition.

Khalwale said he is going to work with like-minded politicians to ensure they lock out Ruto and Gachagua with their allies in Malava and Kakamega County.

"Our region cannot be a place of doing political experiments when we have been denied and sidelined in terms of development. We are not going to allow people from outside to come and dictate to us politically and on what to do. Panyako has small mistakes that we are going to rectify, but he is a good person whom we are going to hold to support and ensure he wins the seat," said Khalwale.

He added, "I am seeing Farouk making endless trips day and night in Malava together with Mudavadi, who has nothing to show the people of Malava. Gachagua is also trying to come to Malava through a young man by the name of Malala, but I want them to brace for a real and tough political duel, and lastly, a sound defeat."