Ruto allies forced to declare support for Sifuna at Khalwale wife's funeral

DCP party Deputy Cleophas Malala gives assurance of his support to Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna during Linda Mwanainchi rally at Kakamega town on August 8,2026.[File-Standard]

What was intended to be a solemn send-off for Gloria Sekeiyan, the late wife of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, quickly turned into a high-octane political arena as local mourners turned heat on government-aligned allies, forcing leaders to publicly declare their allegiance to Nairobi Senator and ODM Edwin Sifuna or not allowed to speak.

The funeral service, held at Malinya Grounds in Malinya, Ikolomani Constituency, provided a stark reflection of the shifting political undercurrents in the Western region.

When Senator Sifuna made his way into Malinya Grounds where the burial ceremony was taking place he was received with overwhelming cheers from the crowd.

Politicians allied with the ruling Kenya Kwanza administration and the broad-based government arrangement found themselves walking a tightrope under hostile chants from an animated crowd.

Others who anticipated the hostility made a clever move and visited the home of Khalwale yesterday to condolences with him in order to escape the wrath of locals on burial day who are supporting Senator Sifuna.

Mourners made it clear early on that speeches straying from the populist tide would not be tolerated.

Politicians perceived to be leaning away from the popular opposition momentum were repeatedly interrupted by chants demands to state where they stood regarding Edwin Sifuna’s growing political influence in the region.

Among those leaders, were Budalang'i MP Raphael Wanjala who had to yield to the crowd's demands, explicitly pledging their willingness to support and work with Sifuna to avoid being booed off the podium.

"Sifuna is also our son, if he wants to come to Budalangi and ask for votes I don’t have a problem with him. Let him walk everywhere he want. We are going to the elections and all seats are going to be vacant, even if Khalwale wants to vie as a governor I won’t stop him," said Wanjala.

He however didn’t complete his speech because the residents wanted him to hear to declare his stance.

Senator Khalwale himself had to step in on multiple occasions to restore order and appeal for calm.

Bumula MP Jack Wamboka also said that for a long time, they have been supporting other people and its time to support Sifuna.

"Tomorrow, I know president William Ruto will come here for a harambee, but I want to plead with you our people to stand with Sifuna. It's only here in western that the president is coming to do harambees yet when you go in his constituency, they have allocated budget for road construction, they have constructed new factories," he said.

Wamboka also questioned who invited speaker of the national assembly Moses Wetang'ula and other leaders at Khalwale's home.

"Who invited him? My brother you have a good heart, if it were me those people couldn't step here," he said.

Majimbo Kalasinga said that broad-based MPs are afraid of facing president William Ruto and telling him the truth.

He said its high time luhyas reject empowerment programmes and ask for budget.

"They say when they go low, we go high. We have fought for Raila so much including, Sifuna who sacrificed a lot but those enjoying the fruits are strangers who never sweated for it," Wamboka stated.

The focal point of public outrage was Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli.

Atwoli’s long-standing position against supporting Sifuna drew sharp condemnation from speakers and mourners alike.

Atwoli has consistently maintained in public forums that he would not back Sifuna’s political ambitions, a stance that has alienated him from a section of Western Kenya’s electorate that views Sifuna as a crucial voice for the region’s youth and opposition politics.

Speakers addressing the gathering rebuked the veteran trade unionist, accusing him of undermining fresh regional leadership and standing in the way of political unity.

"The time for dictating terms to the people of Western Kenya is over," declared Khalwale to thunderous applause. "When elders continually block the path for rising leaders like Sifuna, they alienate themselves from the voters."

Khalwale said at 65 years of age, he will ensure he stands with Sifuna and will fight Atwoli with his big coats.

"I am the one that brought Ruto here, and he won, he first thought we were joking but he ate everything, gave me the tail but came for the tail again and left me empty handed," he said.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa and other leaders who led a delegation of parliamentary leaders to mourn with Khalwale, on Thursday during requim mass, called for political tolerance and unity.

"We want our people to be disciplined and show the importance of unity because we want the burial of Khalwale’s wife to show the unity of our region and we should embrace each other," said Barasa.

Wetang’ula urged politicians to set aside partisan interests during times of grief, but the partisan friction remained palpable throughout the proceedings.