Cherargei: Khalwale’s move to oppose UDA candidate in Malava will not go unpunished
By Mabonga Makhanu, December 2, 2025Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has declared that Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale will face consequences after campaigning against the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate David Ndakwa during the Malava by-election.
In a statement released on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, Cherargei faulted Khalwale, who, despite serving as the Senate Majority Whip, openly supported Democratic Action Party–Kenya (DAP-K) candidate Seth Panyako, who was defeated by David Ndakwa, the party’s preferred candidate.
Cherargei indicated that the party considers Khalwale’s actions a serious violation of its expectations and responsibilities, especially for a senior parliamentary leader tasked with defending the party’s agenda.
He added that Khalwale’s conduct, including public remarks seen as dismissive of UDA and the Kenya Kwanza administration, amounts to a breach that warrants disciplinary measures.
“Senator Bonnie Khalwale of Kakamega County must pay for his political sins for challenging his sponsoring UDA party in the recent Malava constituency by-elections by campaigning against our candidate. His contempt remarks against the UDA Party/Kenya kwanza administration cannot go unpunished,” he said
According to Cherargei, the party intends to use the matter to reinforce internal discipline and restore what he described as political order within the framework of the Political Parties Act.
He maintained that Khalwale’s defiance cannot be overlooked and that the party will take steps to ensure such actions are not repeated.
Khalwale’s political defiance
This comes at a time when Khalwale’s political steps seem to be inclined towards the opposition.
He came out to launch his party, dubbed the United Patriotic Front (UPF), which he hinted he would use as his political vehicle for his 2027 gubernatorial quest.
He stated that the UDA party, which had propelled him to the Senate, had betrayed him and appeared to be supporting Governor Fernandes Barasa.
During the Malava by-election campaigns, he drummed up support for the DAP-K party candidates and even, in one of the forums, appeared to affirm his position within the united opposition by urging Eugene Wamalwa that he was solely behind him and that during his engagements with the united opposition, he fully supported him.
Eugene Wamalwa, on his part, welcomed Khalwale to the DAP-K party, stating that from the look of things, his UDA party does not want him and might soon de-whip him for defying party rules. He told him that DAP-K is the place to be and even hinted at giving him the role previously held by Ayub Savula — the Deputy Party Leader position.