Most politicians change sides but no one saw this coming. Sports CS Rashid Echesa has claimed he fished former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale from being an ODM ally to Deputy President William Ruto’s political brigade. According to Echesa, his decision to approach Khalwale was informed by a consultative meeting Senior Jubilee Leaders had with their junior’s.
The meeting, he says, was as a result of the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Opposition Leader Raila Odinga and the juniors were urged to extend the handshake to their political antagonists. ” I labored so much in trying to bring Khalwale on board.
I explained to him that the political house that he was taking shelter in had also sheltered me for 10 years but there was no much benefit from it,” claimed the outspoken CS. He went ahead stating that he requested the ex-senator to join Ruto, but he could hear non of it.
However, it is understood that before his political reincarnation, Khalwale was among the fiery critiques of Uhuru and Ruto and could not stop singing praises to Raila. After sometime, Echesa said, a meeting was scheduled between himself, Ruto and Khalwale and the DP shared his political ideas with the combative leader.
“Upon pondering on the the DP’s words, Khalwale conceded to them and pronounced that indeed Ruto had informed political and leadership ideas,” the CS said.
On his part, Khalwale said, he believed his decision to follow the DP was a result of him growing wiser politically. He has severally stated that a political alliance with Ruto’s political backyard was the only sure way to bring presidency closer to the Luhya community Khalwale has also claimed the region was still a political infant and could not field a presidential candidate in the 2022 general election. He has expressed optimism his new political home will see him succeed Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya come the next electioneering period.