Khalwale showcases his newly launched UPM party offices in Garissa
By Mabonga Makhanu, March 18, 2026Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has unveiled newly launched offices for his United Patriotic Movement (UPM) in Garissa.
In a post shared on his social media pages on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, the self-proclaimed “bullfighter” noted that the party, which he launched in July 2025, is steadily gaining national appeal.
This development comes just days after the establishment of a similar party office in Bungoma, signalling a growing footprint beyond its traditional base.
UPM party
UPM has largely remained a low-profile outfit under Khalwale’s stewardship, but he has hinted at the possibility of using it as his political vehicle in his anticipated bid for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat in 2027.
Interestingly, after its launch, Khalwale entrusted the day-to-day management of the party to university students, a move seen as an attempt to inject fresh energy and youthful leadership into the outfit, and it has branches all over the country.
During the event, he 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 the 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.
UPM and DNA parties
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.