Ruto gifts Khalwale 4-wheel car with no logbook – Weekly Citizen

William Ruto’s soft spot for Johnnie-come-lately former Kakamega senator Boni Khalwale, at the expense of longtime allies from the Western Kenya region is behind the simmering discord in his camp, potentially triggering an unprecedented exodus in his ranks.

This is happening as Luhya MPs supporting Ruto have been cautioned to either switch camps or perish politically.

Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli said the MPs, mostly from Jubilee should either join him in Building Bridges Initiative or remain where they are and risk being voted out during the 2022 general polls.

Echesa

“I will be the one with the list of those to be considered for various seats at both local and national level and it is therefore up to you to consult with me or remain where you are if you think you are right,” he added.

Atwoli reiterated that he would not be seeking any elective seat in 2022 but would be the kingmaker who will be pulling shots when the time comes.

The Cotu boss spoke at Mwiruti Primary School in Bungoma county during the funeral of the late Thika High School teacher Emmanuel Wenyusia who was his brother-in-law.

Atwoli claimed that Ruto had no respect for the Luhya people, adding that the community had no reason to support him in his bid for the presidency.

Atwoli

“I have some text messages attributed to the DP talking ill of us and those supporting him must re-think about their political destiny,” he claimed.

Earlier on, division had played out with Jubilee and opposition MPs clashing over the proposed constitutional amendments to create more positions at the national level leadership with executive prime minister and a ceremonial president.

Whereas three Jubilee MPs said they would oppose BBI if it does not propose increased resources to the counties, four from ODM said they were for a government of inclusivity to accommodate more tribes in national leadership.

MwambuMabonga of Bumula who was the host, Didmus Barasa (Kimilili) Dan Wanyama (Webuye West) and Catherine Wambilianga (Bungoma) said they did not know the contents of BBI and could not support it blindly.

However, ANC’s Ayub Savula (Lugari), Wilson Sossion (nominated), Onyango K’oyoo (Muhoroni), Omboko Milemba (Emuhaya) and Elsie Muhanda (Kakamega) said they would support it because they know what the people told them during their meetings across the country.

Atwoli paraded the Luhya MPs before the mourners and declared that he would be playing the role of the late Masinde Muliro and Michael Wamalwa by going round at the respective levels.

He complained about elusive Luhya unity that saw ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetang’ula of Ford Kenya both field candidates in the November 7 2019 Kibra parliamentary by-election.

Back to Jubilee politics, it has emerged Khalwale’s brief is partly to act as a persistent irritant to top Luhya political leadership, with the trickle down effect of occasioning general anxiety, as well as pitting Ruto’s allies in the region against each other, for the DP would not mind “as long as they campaign for him”.

Weekly Citizen has learnt that the DP gifted Khalwale with a Nissan Patrol luxury vehicle on top of a Sh1 million monthly retainer in exchange of his loyalty and brinkmanship ahead of the 2022 transition that is expected to see Uhuru Kenyatta exit the political scene upon the completion of his second and final term in office.

Barasa

Even with Ruto’s four-wheel drive gift curiously coming without a logbook for legitimate ownership, a feisty Khalwale seems to have bounced back on the political scene with a bang, naturally sending bona fide Ruto confidantes reeling in desire attributable to self entitlement.

The outspoken politician’s entry into the Jubilee fray saw former Sports CS Rashid Echesa sent a warning shot amid simmering tensions in the DP’s camp, even contemptuously dismissing Khalwale as an activist and a comedian not worth talking about.

Other than Echesa’s bold take on the former Ikolomani lawmaker, many political leaders from the region would choose to suffer in silence save for pockets of guarded resistance to the bullfighter of Ikolomani’s domineering deportment in what one area lawmaker swore never to take it lying down against a backdrop of their hard fought triumph over a Raila Odinga dominance.

According to insider reports, some of the disgruntled allies of the DP have already sought audience with Raila for possible reunion, what with Khalwale’s abrasive brand of politics apparently rubbing them the wrong way.