Khalwale to Farouk: We don’t need a night runner in Malava politics
By Kenneth Mwenda, July 12, 2025Outspoken Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has lashed out at President Ruto’s aide, Farouk Kibet, accusing him of interfering with local politics ahead of the upcoming by-election in Malava.
Khalwale, who visited the constituency on Saturday, July 12, took to X to wish the people of Malava a “free and fair by-election now that IEBC is fully constituted.” He also shared a video in which he criticised Kibet’s frequent visits to the area, suggesting that they were politically motivated.
“Mnaona mtu wa mkono wa rais, Farouk Kibet, anazunguka Malava Jumamosi Jumapili kila siku. Huyu hazunguki hapa kwa sababu anatupenda. Anazunguka hapa kwa sababu anaingiza baridi vile sisi tulipatia rais kura, na rais kazi yake bado kuonekana,” Khalwale said in the video.
Translation: “You see the President’s right-hand man, Farouk Kibet, moving around Malava every Saturday and Sunday. He’s not doing it because he loves us. He’s doing it because he’s getting nervous, knowing we gave the President our votes, yet the President’s work is still nowhere to be seen.”
He went on to say that Farouk was eyeing the vacant parliamentary seat left by the late Malulu Injendi, who died recently.
“Farouk, sikia vizuri. Kiti ya Malulu ingeli, Mungu ndiye alisema ndugu yetu alale. Hatuna furaha kwamba tulipoteza mweshimiwa,” he added.
Translation: “Farouk, listen carefully. The Malulu seat became vacant because God decided our brother should rest. We are not happy that we lost our honourable member.”
Locals should decide freely
Khalwale noted that while several aspirants are interested in the seat, they are all locals and should be allowed to run without external influence.
Wenye wanatafuta kiti ya Malava wote ni watoto wetu. So we do not need an outsider to be running up and down like a night runner kunikumbusha pigia huyu kura, ama huyu kura,” he stated.
Translation: “Those seeking the Malava seat are all our children. So we do not need an outsider running up and down like a night runner to remind us to vote for this one or that one.”
His remarks come just days after a three-judge bench cleared the newly appointed IEBC team to begin operations, ending a long period of leadership paralysis at the electoral body. This paves the way for long-overdue by-elections in several constituencies: Malava (Kakamega), Ugunja (Siaya), Mbeere North (Embu), Kasipul (Homa Bay), Banissa (Mandera), and Magarini (Kilifi).
The IEBC, now chaired by Erastus Edung Ethekon, is set to oversee its first major test with these polls.