Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has revealed that he discouraged President William Ruto from attending the burial of his late wife, Gloria Khalwale, at Malinya Grounds in Ikolomani Constituency, Kakamega County, citing concerns that the President’s presence could disrupt the solemn occasion.
Speaking during the burial ceremony, Khalwale said President Ruto had informed him of his intention to attend the funeral and later sent his personal assistant, Farouk Kibet, to seek coordinates for the presidential aircraft to land.
The senator said he advised the Head of State against travelling to Malinya, arguing that the prevailing political atmosphere in the area could trigger hostility and distract mourners from giving his wife a peaceful send-off.
“The President called me through his personal assistant, Farouk Kibet, asking for the coordinates for his plane to land. But I told him, ‘Mr President, don’t come to Malinya," Khalwale recalled.
Khalwale said his decision was informed by what he described as growing political differences between the Government and sections of the community, particularly bullfighting enthusiasts who have traditionally supported him.
He further alleged that allies of President Ruto, both from Kakamega and outside the county, had attempted to organise an empowerment programme at Murhanda Grounds in Shinyalu, a popular venue for bullfighting, in an effort to win the support of bull owners and enthusiasts.
According to Khalwale, the initiative involved plans to spend Sh5 million to acquire land for bullfighting as part of an empowerment programme.
He claimed the move was aimed at undermining his influence as the patron of bullfighters in the region.
“They took Sh5 million to Murhanda to confuse our children and tell them to relocate, but they refused. I wanted my wife’s funeral to be as peaceful as this because of that incident,” Khalwale said.
The senator claimed the proposed empowerment programme flopped after bull owners and lovers rejected it, partly because he had not been involved in the initiative despite his position as patron of bullfighters.
Khalwale also linked the rejection to what he described as the growing influence of the Linda Mwananchi Movement in Western Kenya.
He said the strong support he enjoys among bullfighters and sections of the community had made it difficult for the Government to use the sport to win political support in the region.
The senator argued that President Ruto’s attendance at the funeral could have provoked political reactions from some mourners and bullfighting enthusiasts, potentially turning the solemn occasion into a political confrontation.
“I wanted the funeral to remain focused on mourning my wife and supporting the family during this difficult time,” he said.
Malinya Grounds, where Gloria Khalwale was laid to rest, is one of the region’s well-known venues for bullfighting.
Bullfighters and lovers of the sport from Ikolomani, Shinyalu and neighbouring areas were expected to participate in cultural rites associated with the traditional sport as part of the funeral programme.
Khalwale has in past one year emerged as one of the vocal critics of President Ruto and his administration after shifting to the Opposition, accusing the government of failing to honour development promises made to the people of Western Kenya.
The senator has also thrown his political weight behind Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi Movement, which has positioned itself against President Ruto’s bid for a second term in the 2027 General Election.
Sifuna is among politicians positioning themselves for the presidency in 2027, setting the stage for an increasingly competitive political contest in Western Kenya and across the country.
Khalwale’s revelation adds a new dimension to the political tensions surrounding President Ruto’s relationship with sections of the Western Kenya electorate, with the senator portraying his decision to keep the President away from the burial as an attempt to protect the sanctity of his wife’s final send-off.
