Khalwale unveils party he will use to contest for governor seat in 2027
Kakamega Senator and 2027 gubernatorial hopeful Boni Khalwale has on Monday, July 14, 2025, unveiled a political party dubbed the United Patriotic Movement (UPM), which he intends to use as his political vehicle in the upcoming election.
“Leaders of that party are university students; the party is called the United Patriotic Movement (UPM),” Khalwale said.
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Addressing his supporters at his home in Malinya, Khalwale introduced UPM as a youth-driven party managed by university students, with organised teams spread across the country.
During the event, he invited a young woman dressed in a white T-shirt branded with the UPM logo, identifying her as the coordinator for the Western region. He noted that other regions, including the Coast and Mt Kenya, also have their respective representatives.
“We have teams across the country; she is in charge of the team in the Western Province, another little girl called Diana is in charge of Mt Kenya, and another one called Tunde is in charge of the coast,” Khalwale stated.
Khalwale urged his supporters to rally behind the UPM cause and walk the journey with him.
He emphasised the importance of grassroots mobilisation and tasked the Western region coordinator, Diana, with spearheading member recruitment efforts across the county as preparations for the 2027 gubernatorial race gain momentum.
“I know maybe some of you may want to walk the UPM journey, and for those who want to, Diana has come to train you on recruiting members in Kakamega County,“ he added.
Ditching UDA
This unveiling of the party came just after he ruled out using UDA as his political outfit in the next election
During the same meeting, the outspoken senator stated that the path to becoming governor through UDA is no longer viable
“The path to becoming Kakamega Governor through UDA imefungwa; it’s not there,” Khalwale said.
He pointed to a recent instance when President William Ruto, during a visit to Kakamega, publicly praised Governor Fernandes Barasa—his main political opponent—and referred to him as a close ally.
This, according to Khalwale, cast serious doubt on whether the president would support his candidacy under UDA in the next election.
“Nikitegemea hiyo uda ni Chama ya rais, mlimsikia akisema hadharani tukiwa Equity Bank,” alisema ya kwamba yeye na Barasa ni Chanda na pete,” Khalwale added.
He went on to call upon the president, Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula to support his 2027 gubernatorial bid.
He reminded the president how he stood by him, took him to Western Kenya, and campaigned for him.
