Khalwale expands UPM party presence with new Machakos office
By Mabonga Makhanu, May 23, 2026Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s United Patriotic Movement (UPM) party has continued to spread its wings as he launches a party office in Machakos.
In a statement shared on his social media pages, the outspoken gubernatorial hopeful could not hide his joy as he shared images of the newly launched Machakos office.
The party, which is now barely a year old since its inception, had its first office in Kakamega before moving to Bungoma and then further to Garissa and Machakos.
During the launch of the party at his home in June last year, the senator stated that he would use the party as his vehicle in his quest for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in August 2027.
He added that the UPM party is youth-driven, managed by university students, and will have branches across the country.
UPM party launch
Khalwale who had ealier fallen out with his UDA party, invited a young woman dressed in a white T-shirt branded with the UPM logo, identifying her as the coordinator for the Western region. He noted that other regions, including the Coast and Mt Kenya, also have their respective representatives.
“We have teams across the country; she is in charge of the team in the Western Province, another little girl called Diana is in charge of Mt Kenya, and another one called Tunde is in charge of the coast,” Khalwale stated.
Khalwale urged his supporters to rally behind the UPM cause and walk the journey with him.
He emphasised the importance of grassroots mobilisation and tasked the Western region coordinator, Diana, with spearheading member recruitment efforts across the county as preparations for the 2027 gubernatorial race gain momentum.
“I know maybe some of you may want to walk the UPM journey, and for those who want to, Diana has come to train you on recruiting members in Kakamega County,“ he added.
Ditching UDA
This unveiling of the party came just after he ruled out using UDA as his political outfit in the next election.
During the same meeting, the outspoken senator stated that the path to becoming governor through UDA is no longer viable.
Wamalwa’s take on Khalwale’s party
This has elicited sharp reactions from politicians in the region, including DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa.
Wamalwa labelled the small parties being registered by politicians from the region as appendages of the UDA party and a move by the President to weaken the opposition and DAP-K’s influence in the Mulembe region.
He cited Khalwale’s UPM party and the Democratic National Alliance (DNA), whose candidate finished third in the Malava by-election.
He noted that most of the DNA are former officials of Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC), terming it another attempt to weaken DAP-K.
Wamalwa urged the region not to accept such parties and instead fully embrace DAP-K, arguing that doing so would increase the chances of defeating President William Ruto and his UDA party in the 2027 general election.