Ford Kenya Kakamega branch has started a process that could see former Senator Boni Khalwale de-whipped for unbecoming conduct. The branch executive committee cited grounds of the former lawmaker’s support for Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid.
Khalwale is the party deputy leader and is a member of the Kakamega branch. In a Sunday meeting, the branch said the former Senator’s association with Ruto was personal and has nothing to do with party.
The officials say the subject’s action amount to sabotage to his boss Moses Wetang’ula who has declared interest in bidding for the top job. They want Khalwale disciplined and his membership withdrawn.
Early this week, Ford Kenya endorsed Wetang’ula as its flag bearer in the next general election. Branch secretary Joseph Barasa said that it was wrong for Khalwale to loiter around proclaiming support for the DP when his own party leader is a candidate.
Hayawi hayawi huwa! Today I led Baluhyia MPs at a high powered delegation of 500 Baluhyia leaders drawn from the 85 wards of Nairobi at a working breakfast meeting with @WilliamsRuto.
Agenda:
-Baluhyia khulombe amaika keru bene pic.twitter.com/6uakrDst2n— Boni Khalwale (@KBonimtetezi) December 20, 2018
“Khalwale is on his own in what he is doing since that is not the party position. If it is a business he is doing with the DP, it’s his and not the party’s.”
“We have recommended to the party to summon Khalwale and discipline him,” Barasa said. Barasa said that the former legislator has never convened a single party meeting since he joined the party from UDF.
Khalwale’s close association with the DP raised suspicion over the much-touted merger between Ford Kenya and Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC, leading to the collapse of the union.
The merger was to give birth to a new single political entity capable of uniting the Luhya bloc vote ahead of the 2022 race.
The branch officials asked Wetang’ula to re-engage with Mudavadi and forge a working arrangement that will benefit the Luhya community and the nation at large.