Political tensions in Western Kenya are intensifying as President William Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, has publicly dismissed Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale as “a nobody” amid growing rifts within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
The feud erupted as the party moves to secure victory in the upcoming Malava constituency by-election scheduled for November 2025.
UDA is backing Kakamega County Minority Leader David Ndakwa, while Khalwale has openly criticised the party’s choice, accusing Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi of imposing an “outsider” on Malava residents.
Speaking during an empowerment event in Kakamega, Farouk accused Khalwale of political hypocrisy and failure to deliver development in the region.
“He has not built any school or brought any development to Malava, so who is he to speak about Malava?” Farouk told the crowd, urging voters to reject the senator in 2027. He accused Khalwale of divisive politics and undermining UDA’s efforts to consolidate support in Western Kenya.
The Malava seat fell vacant following the death of ANC MP Malulu Injendi in August. The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has cleared eleven candidates to contest the by-election, including DCP’s Seth Panyako.
Meanwhile, opposition infighting continues to undermine its strength in the region. The Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) has issued a stern ultimatum to DCP to withdraw Panyako’s candidacy or risk expulsion from the opposition coalition.
Panyako’s eligibility is also under legal scrutiny, with a petition filed by aspirant Caleb Burudi claiming he failed to resign from his post at the Local Authorities Provident Fund (LAPFUND) within the required period. The petition argues that Panyako was ineligible for both party primaries and the election itself.
With UDA battling internal discord and the opposition mired in disputes, the Malava race has become a crucial test of Western Kenya’s shifting political loyalties.
