Khalwale accuses Barasa of funds misuse, vows to unseat him

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale yesterday insisted that he was determined to dethrone Governor Fernandes Barasa in the 2027 elections.

Dr Khalwale used the burial of his longtime farmhand at Malinya village in Ikolomani constituency to lash out at Barasa whom he accused of misuse of funds allocated to the county.

He challenged the governor to, particularly, account for more than Sh982 million that was allocated to the county for improvement of several hospitals.

“Barasa has been backpedalling all the gains made by his predecessor Wycliffe Oparanya. No single project initiated by the former governor is being implemented,” the senator said. “I put him on notice today that he should get prepared to serve for only one term as I am determined to kick him out come 2027,” he added.

Khalwale accused Barasa of using some people in the county to undermine him. He, however, said he would not take any legal action against a businessman who linked him to the death of the worker Kizito Amukune Moi.

“I tell Toto (Cleophas Shimanyula) to concentrate on soiling my name as Khalwale but keep off those of my wives,” he added.

Shimanyula claimed Moi was murdered by the senator after he discovered that he was having an intimate affair with one of his wives.

But two separate post-mortem examinations confirmed that the worker was killed by “Inasio”, the bull that he used to take care of, on the night of Saturday, January 27.

Khalwale said the worker’s death and subsequent killing of his prized bull traumatized him to the point of him not having the energy to accompany President William Ruto during his four-day tour of the Western region.  The 46-year-old farmhand was finally interred at his home in Malinya followed by bullfighting contests known locally as “shilembe”.