Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has maintained a defiant stance, declaring that he will not bow to pressure from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) despite threats to strip him of his position as Senate Majority Whip.
Speaking on Saturday, October 25, 2025, in Malava Constituency, Khalwale accused the ruling party of orchestrating a campaign of intimidation and political witch-hunt over his position on the upcoming Malava parliamentary by-election.
“There is no compromise. Those threats of firing me—they are forcing me to take a stand against my community for a mere position. I cannot fight my house because of positions,” Khalwale said during the event.
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“I was a Luhya before I became an MP, a senator, and government Chief Whip. One day, all these positions will go away and I will remain a Luhya,” he added.
Khalwale, who has been a vocal figure in Western Kenya politics, insisted that loyalty to his community and conscience outweighs loyalty to political offices. His remarks come just days after the UDA Disciplinary Committee issued him with a show-cause letter accusing him of misconduct and contravening the party’s code of conduct.
In the letter dated October 9, 2025, and signed by Charles Njenga, the committee chairperson, the party accused Khalwale of openly supporting a rival political party’s candidate in the Malava by-election. The letter cited his “open, vocal, conspicuous, and substantial” support for a candidate opposing the UDA nominee, calling it a violation of party principles and loyalty.
“These include, but are not limited to, your open support and participation in the campaigns of a candidate from a different political party who is competing with the UDA candidate in the scheduled by-election for Member of Parliament, Malava Constituency,” the letter stated.
The senator has publicly thrown his weight behind Seth Panyako, a long-time professional colleague and candidate under the Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K), led by former Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.
The move has placed him at odds with UDA, which has fielded David Ndakwa as its official candidate for the Malava seat.
Panyako, a former UDA member and ex–Kenya National Union of Nurses (KNUN) Secretary-General, defected to DAP-K earlier this year, citing irreconcilable differences with the ruling party.
The standoff between Khalwale and UDA has intensified tensions within the ruling coalition, particularly in Western Kenya, where the party has been working to strengthen its base ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Despite the looming threat of disciplinary action and possible removal from his leadership position in the Senate, Khalwale remains unapologetic. “They can take away the title, but they cannot take away my principles,” he affirmed.
As the party weighs its next move, Khalwale’s defiance continues to stir political debate, with observers warning that his fallout with UDA could have significant implications for the party’s influence in the Western region.