Kakamega County Senator Boni Khalwale has voiced partial support for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over his previous controversial ‘shares’ rhetoric.

Speaking during a Senate proceeding on Tuesday, August 5, 2025, Khalwale insisted that some aspects of the “share” rhetoric are not as bad as they seem.

“I am not in the same mindset as the guy of shares. But sometimes there are certain aspects about the guy of shares that had nothing wrong. For example, when he was saying development should go to the mountain, I mean, that is what government is all about; that’s what representation in the national government is all about,” he stated.

This comes amid ongoing debates about resource allocation, regional equity, and Gachagua’s 2024 impeachment, which was partly fuelled by accusations of ethnic divisiveness. His emphasis on “shareholding” in the government refers to the idea that regions like Mt Kenya, which heavily supported President William Ruto’s 2022 election win, deserve proportional benefits in appointments, development projects, and national resources.

“When you look at these counties, these billions, and of course, as expected, our share from the 85% that remains at the national government is supposed to open our economy. The government promised our people during the 2022 elections that they would fix the roads and infrastructure in this county. I wonder why it is still impossible to fix the roads,” Khalwale questioned.

Khalwale’s changing stance

Khalwale’s views on Gachagua have shifted over time: at first, he dismissed Gachagua’s “shareholders” talk as “nonsense,” aligning with President Ruto’s public assurances that the government belongs to all Kenyans, regardless of voting patterns.

During Gachagua’s impeachment, Khalwale urged a fair process, stating he would not support the motion without clear evidence of wrongdoing, but later advised Gachagua to accept the outcome.

This statement implies Khalwale believes Gachagua was justified in pushing for development to reach specific regions like Mt Kenya, even if he doesn’t fully endorse the “shares” framing.