UDA Removes Khalwale as Senate Majority Whip in Major Political Shake-Up
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has officially been removed from his position as Senate Majority Whip in a dramatic and highly anticipated political shift.
The decision was made by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and Senate Speaker Amason Kingi confirmed the move on Tuesday after receiving formal communication from the ruling party.
Speaker Kingi told the Senate that the correspondence he received included minutes showing that UDA had passed a resolution to strip Khalwale of his role under Standing Order 225.
He went on to explain that Standing Order 228 requires the Speaker to verify such communication before announcing it to the House, a process he had already completed.
Kingi then declared that Khalwale’s removal takes immediate effect and announced Bungoma Senator David Wakoli Wafula as the new Senate Majority Whip.
According to the Speaker, all procedures had been followed correctly, and the majority party had formally installed Wafula as the new office holder.
During the announcement, Khalwale sat quietly in the chamber with a visibly solemn expression, suggesting that he may have already anticipated the outcome.
By losing this powerful position, the Kakamega Senator has seen a major reduction in his influence, since the majority whip is responsible for enforcing party discipline, organizing the party’s agenda in the Senate, and coordinating support for important bills.
Tension between Khalwale and UDA had been building for weeks. Signs of strained relations became clear when Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei openly accused Khalwale of defiance and warned that the party would “discipline” him.
The fallout started after Khalwale joined hands with opposition figures—among them Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya and DAP-K leader Eugene Wamalwa—to campaign for Seth Panyako in the Malava by-election.
Despite this show of unity, Panyako lost the contest, with UDA’s David Ndakwa emerging victorious in a fiercely competitive race.
The outcome further exposed rifts within UDA, especially after senior party members linked the campaign activity to internal rebellion.
On Tuesday, Senator Cherargei intensified his remarks, claiming that Khalwale was now part of a growing list of rebels from both UDA and ODM who supported rival candidates.
He warned that such leaders would not only lose their parliamentary positions but also face disciplinary action from their respective parties.
“There are UDA MPs and ODM MPs who went against their parties and supported opponents in the by-elections.
Starting tomorrow, we will begin the procedure of removing all of them from parliamentary leadership roles,” Cherargei said, signaling a broader purge of perceived rebels within the political establishment.
The move against Khalwale marks a significant moment in UDA’s internal politics and highlights the party’s firm stance on loyalty and discipline as it seeks to strengthen its control in Parliament.
Join Gen z Official WhatsApp Channel to share your thoughts and stay updated on time
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaWT5gSGufImU8R0DO30
