Khalwale drops out of Kakamega gubernatorial race
By Joshua Cheloti
Former Kakamega Senator Dr Bonny Khalwale has dropped out of the gubernatorial race.
Khalwale will now be supporting the current Senator Cleophas Malala for the county’s top seat.
A deal for the two was sealed during a meeting that was held at Deputy President William Ruto’s official residence in Karen, Nairobi.
Both Khalwale and Malala were seeking to vie for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat on different political vehicles – all under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
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File image of Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and incumbent, Cleophas Malala (r). |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
Khalwale was to vie on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, while Malala was popularizing his bid using the Amani National Congress (ANC) party.
Since ANC and Ford Kenya joined UDA to form Kenya Kwanza, there have been concerns that the alliance would have a tough balancing act in picking who vies for the seat against an Azimio la Umoja candidate in the county.
The latest deal is a major boost to Kenya Kwanza’s ambitions to win the Kakamega gubernatorial seat now being held by Wyclif Oparanya – who is serving his last term.
By supporting Malala, Bonny Khalwale will now vie for the Kakamega Senate seat – a position he served from 2013 to 2017, before losing to Malala.
The Kakamega gubernatorial seat is now zeroed down a Kenya Kwanza-Azimio la Umoja showdown – pitting Malala against Fernandes Barasa, who recently resigned as Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) director-general.
Kakamega is considered an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) stronghold, and the battle between Malala and Barasa will be a closely monitored one.
A deal between Malala and Khalwale has been sealed at a time ANC has been pushing to be allocated the running mate slot in Kenya Kwanza.
Malala, a key ally of ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi has been vocal in pushing for the running mate to be given to his party leader.
Leaders from the vote-rich Mount Kenya have however maintained that the position is their reserve.
File image of Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale and incumbent, Cleophas Malala (r). |Photo| Courtesy|[/caption]
Khalwale was to vie on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, while Malala was popularizing his bid using the Amani National Congress (ANC) party.
Since ANC and Ford Kenya joined UDA to form Kenya Kwanza, there have been concerns that the alliance would have a tough balancing act in picking who vies for the seat against an Azimio la Umoja candidate in the county.
The latest deal is a major boost to Kenya Kwanza’s ambitions to win the Kakamega gubernatorial seat now being held by Wyclif Oparanya – who is serving his last term.
By supporting Malala, Bonny Khalwale will now vie for the Kakamega Senate seat – a position he served from 2013 to 2017, before losing to Malala.
The Kakamega gubernatorial seat is now zeroed down a Kenya Kwanza-Azimio la Umoja showdown – pitting Malala against Fernandes Barasa, who recently resigned as Kenya Electricity Transmission Company (KETRACO) director-general.
Kakamega is considered an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) stronghold, and the battle between Malala and Barasa will be a closely monitored one.
A deal between Malala and Khalwale has been sealed at a time ANC has been pushing to be allocated the running mate slot in Kenya Kwanza.
Malala, a key ally of ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi has been vocal in pushing for the running mate to be given to his party leader.
Leaders from the vote-rich Mount Kenya have however maintained that the position is their reserve. What's Your Reaction?
