Khalwale opens up about how Ruto betrayed him after promising CS position
Boni Khalwale has come out to speak on how he was betrayed by President William Ruto, who had promised him the Health Cabinet Secretary position upon election in 2022.
Speaking during a meeting at his home in Malinya on Monday, July 14, 2025, the Kakamega Senator revealed that during the 2022 campaigns, the president had assured him that once Moses Wetang’ula resigned as Bungoma Senator to become the Speaker of the National Assembly, he too would resign as Kakamega Senator to take up the Health CS slot in the reconstituted Cabinet.
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However, when the president unveiled his cabinet, Khalwale’s name was missing.
“The president said that Wetang’ula is running for senator, Khalwale is running for senator, through you the people who will vote for you will also vote for me, Wetang’ula will become speaker, will resign, and you, Khalwale, will resign; you will become the minister of health. When the president named the cabinet, he had shortchanged me,” Khalwale said.
Khalwale says he then approached the then Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and requested to be considered for Senate leadership, specifically the position of Senate Majority Leader. Gachagua agreed, but when the Senate leadership was finally announced, the position was handed to Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot—whom Khalwale considers a junior in Parliament, having served for over 12 years before Cheruiyot’s entry.
“I told the deputy president, duly elected, I told him that now the president has named a cabinet, let me take leadership in the Senate.” He said yes. “Then the president named a young guy who came in parliament in the 12th year when I had already served 12 years in parliament,” Khalwale added.
Embracing the whip role
As a consolation, Khalwale was given the Majority Whip position, which he says he took up with dedication and went on to become one of the most effective whips the Senate has ever had.
“I accepted. Then I knew the president better; I knew Mudavadi better; I knew Wetang’ula better. Then I said, ‘Let me serve the Senate as the best majority whip the Senate has ever had. I have never lost a single motion then,” he added.
