Former Bahati MP Ngunjiri Kimani has responded to Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale following remarks that President William Ruto should now shift his development agenda from the Mt Kenya region to the western part of Kenya.

Khalwale on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, while speaking in Lugusi village in Malava constituency, Kakamega County, urged the president to consider shifting the development agenda to the Western region which he claims has been sidelined for almost 60 years.

He further argued that the development will be geared at opening the country economically.

His sentiments have however been dismissed by Ngunjiri, who contends that such utterances could set the country on a vicious political cycle.

Dangerous path

The former MP registered his dismay with the comments, which he held would thwart gains made in making the country progress.

“I saw the Kakamega Senator talking before the President in dismay, saying that the president should now take money and development projects to Western and not to the mountain. Where was he when the people from the mountain were voting for the president? He was engaging in bullfighting,” he remarked.

“Some issues need to be approached and undertaken with caution.  I’m seeing a very dangerous trend if you fight one group of people now and next perhaps, you get to the government. You leave the others fighting the government. The gimmick will be factions taking turns to fight the government when you feel you’re not part of it. We need to build this country and move forward with a view of uniting people.”

Khalwale’s remarks come barely a month after Webuye West MP Dan Wanyama urged President Ruto to shift focus on the Western Kenya region following the growing rebellion in the Mt Kenya region.

Speaking on Sunday, January 19, 2025, during the Interdenominational Prayers held at Cheptais Boys’ High School in Bungoma County, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) lawmaker stated that the president should stop climbing the already slippery mountain and explore Mt Elgon in the western region, which he says is more stable.

Wanyama argued that the recent merger of Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC) and Ruto’s UDA is a move that will teach the larger Mt. Kenya region a lesson over what he termed as continued entitlement.

According to Wanyama, locking the Western region block will help President Ruto win re-election easily without the support of Mt. Kenya.

The views are ostensibly birthed by Ruto’s recent trips to the western region as he switched his political charm offensive to the region following his fallout with Gachagua midway in 2024.