A recent altercation between former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale and former Sports cabinet secretary Rashid Echesa during the burial of Matungu MP Justus Murunga recently is a pointer that William Ruto’s house in the western region is not all well.
Bonny Khalwale
Echesa alleged that when Murunga died, his alleged lover identified as Agnes Wangui went to court to stop the burial programme and demanded a DNA sample on his remains be taken for the paternity test of her two kids. The former CS alleged that Khalwale was behind everything and that the former senator was trying to extort Wangui adding that the MP’s lover was receiving instructions from the former senator. He also added that the former senator tried to reach out to the widow demanding Sh200,000 so that the case could be dropped. This was just the tip of the iceberg as Echesa and Khalwale have been jostling for positions in the Ruto camp.
Rashid Echesa
Insiders in the camp say Khalwale’s highhandedness has presided over a mass walkout by politicians from the camp. It is said the former senator, an insider of the DP, has ringfenced the DP in a wider scheme to block Ruto from meeting politicians from the region. During the showdown with Echesa, the former CS said revealed that he is the one who took Khalwale to Ruto’s office when he was broke and in the political cold and now he is being sidelined. “My brother Khalwale with due respect, I am the one who held your hand and took you to Ruto’s office,” he added.
Late Justus Murunga
His revelation left many people wondering, while others advised the two leaders to find ways of sorting out their differences. Khalwale is being blamed by politicians from the western region for shielding the DP from them. Recently, the former senator led a delegation of African Church of the Holy Spirit members to the DP’s Sugoi home much to the chagrin of Malava MP Malulu Injendi who has since left the camp. It is said Khalwale had sidelined Malulu in the tour. Further during the Kibra by-election, it is said Khalwale received millions from Ruto to campaign for Macdonald Mariga among the Luhya community but he was alone on the ground sidelining MPs allied to Ruto.
Agnes Wangui
For now, Khalwale has been sidelined and is a lone ranger in pushing Ruto’s agenda in the region. It is said Khalwale has staged an elaborate plot to sponsor candidates against sitting MPs and MCAs. In the wider scheme, he is said to be behind Chegulo/Butali ward MCA Kevin Mayelo’s quest for the Malava parliamentary seat, which is currently held by Malulu. The growing rift threatens to scuttle the DP’s bid to solidify his support base in the region ahead of the 2022 general election. In recent days, leaders allied to the DP have clashed over who should be his point man in the region.
Malulu Injendi
Some have opted to skip events presided over by Ruto. The absence of MPs Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Mwambu Mabonga (Bumula), Dan Wanyama (Webuye West) and Echesa during the events fuels speculation over a possible fall-out. The DP has expressed reservations about the confusion and wants the leaders to thrash out their differences. Ruto is said to be alive to the fact that should there be a fallout among the leaders, his forays in the region would count for nothing. Several leaders in the region including Sirisia MP John Waluke claim that Khalwale has become a stumbling block.
Didmus Barasa
According to Barasa, Ruto handlers have left them in the dark without clear leadership structures. The MP is the only one leading the No campaigns in the Building Bridges Initiative. Charles Gemose (Hamisi), Tindi Mwale (Butere), Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Titus Khamala (Lurambi) and Washiali are said to be charting their own political destiny. In Emuhaya and Luanda constituencies, pro-Ruto MCAs are blaming one Tom Atingo for being used by Khalwale to block them from meeting Ruto.
John Waluke
Atingo is said to have pocketed part of the money the DP donated during the burial of the late head of Church Of God in East Africa Byrum Makokha. The DP gave Sh500,000 but only half of it was given to the family by Atingo. According to sources within the camp, Echesa and Washiali do not want Khalwale to take charge of Matungu by-election. They see Khalwale a foreigner in Mumias politics and say his presence will ruin the campaigns. By saying Khalwale is out to con Murunga’s family, a cunning Echesa was locking him out of the campaigns as the former senator would fall out with Murunga family.
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