The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has officially removed Boni Khalwale (Senator for Kakamega County) from his position as Senate Majority Whip, installing David Wakoli Wafula (Senator for Bungoma County) as his replacement days after the hotly contested Malava Constituency by‑election.
Boni Khalwale Departs “With Immediate Effect”
During the Senate plenary on Tuesday afternoon, Amason Kingi confirmed receipt and verification of official correspondence from UDA leadership. “A resolution was passed to remove the Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale in accordance with Standing Order 225,” he stated. The change, he added, takes effect immediately under Standing Order 228, which allows for the swift replacement of leadership upon party notification.
Khalwale, present at the session, appeared visibly sombre, a clear indication that he anticipated the move. He lost a powerful instrument: as Majority Whip, his role included enforcing party discipline and coordinating passage of key legislation in the Senate.
With Khalwale gone, Bungoma Senator Wafula Wakoli now assumes the whip’s mantle, signalling UDA’s resolve to tighten internal cohesion ahead of 2027 general elections.
Breach of Party Loyalty
The ouster was widely expected. Over recent weeks, UDA had escalated pressure against Khalwale, accusing him of disloyalty after he openly campaigned in the Malava by‑election for a candidate from another political party, rather than supporting the UDA‑backed nominee.
Senator Khalwale had publicly endorsed Seth Panyako of Democratic Action Party – Kenya (DAP‑K), instead of the official UDA candidate. Such a move was viewed by many within the ruling coalition as a direct challenge to party discipline and coalition unity.
In mid‑October, the UDA Disciplinary Committee delivered a show‑cause letter to Khalwale, giving him 14 days to explain why he should not be sanctioned for “gross misconduct” and “anti-party conduct” under the party’s constitution and Kenya’s national requirement for integrity among public office holders.
Khalwale refused to budge. Instead, he doubled down, arguing that his loyalty to his Luhya community and their collective political interests transcended any party position or title. “There is no compromise. … I was a Luhya before I became an MP, a senator, and government Chief Whip,” he said in a public address in Malava.
UDA Signals Stronger Enforcement of Discipline
The party’s decision was vindicated by Samson Cherargei (Senator for Nandi County), who had earlier warned that Khalwale’s defiance would not go unpunished. Cherargei said the UDA leadership would use the move to restore “political hygiene” under the Political Parties Act and ensure that no senior member undermines party interests with impunity.
The ouster comes days after UDA and coalition allies consolidated by‑election wins, a result that party leaders now interpret as a mandate to purge “rebel” legislators and reassert discipline within parliamentary ranks.
A Statement on Regional Equity?
Observers say Khalwale’s move reflects deeper frustrations among some leaders in the Western region who feel the region has been marginalised in national development under the current administration. In a rally in November, Khalwale revealed he had abandoned loyalty to the party leadership after a meeting with former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. He claimed that upon taking office, Matiang’i would bring “brutal government efficiency,” insinuating disillusionment with the current government’s performance.
Khalwale’s public remarks and decision to back Panyako instead of Ndakwa, the UDA candidate, ignited a wave of anger from party loyalists who saw in him a dangerous precedent of internal dissent.
Implications for Senate Politics and the 2027 Elections
Boni Khalwale’s removal resonates beyond a personnel change. It is a sharp signal from UDA and the broader Kenya Kwanza Alliance coalition that internal dissent will be met with swift punitive measures. For other senior legislators eyeing 2027 elections, or local repositionings, the warning is clear: party loyalty must take precedence.
For Boni Khalwale, the loss of the whip’s position fundamentally diminishes his leverage in the Senate, reducing his influence over legislative agenda and party coordination. It also raises questions about his political trajectory, whether he will continue as a backbench senator under a cloud of suspicion, or reposition himself as a maverick voice, potentially outside UDA.
Meanwhile, Wafula Wickoli’s ascendancy signals UDA’s intent to reinforce control over Senate proceedings, especially as the coalition prioritises cohesion heading into the 2027 elections. With the Western region already witnessing volatility and political realignments, UDA may seek to assert its dominance early.
For the broader electorate, especially in Western Kenya, the episode sheds light on evolving tensions between party loyalty and regional representation. As 2027 inches closer, questions around whether political parties can accommodate internal dissent, or whether they will enforce discipline at the expense of representation, are likely to become more pronounced.
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