A political showdown unfolded at the funeral of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale’s wife, Gloria Sekeiyan, after Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala differed over the political direction of the emerging Linda Mwananchi movement.
The drama played out at Malinya Stadium in Ikolomani, Kakamega County, on Friday, August 21, where leaders had gathered to bid farewell to Gloria, who died on August 15.
Malala, who is the deputy party leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), used the occasion to challenge Khalwale to hand over his United Patriotic Movement (UPM) party to Sifuna to provide him with a vehicle for his 2027 presidential bid.
“We know you cannot register a political party within 50 days. Khalwale, you have a party. If you truly love Sifuna, step down as party leader and hand it over to him so that he can use it to run for the presidency,” Malala said.
The proposal appeared to put Malala and Sifuna at odds over how the Nairobi senator’s presidential ambitions should be pursued, with Sifuna maintaining his position while Malala pushed for a concrete political vehicle ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Malala further disclosed that he had opened talks with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in an effort to build a wider coalition around Sifuna.
“I have already started talks with Riggy G so that he supports you to become Kenya’s next president,” Malala told Sifuna.
The exchange came against the backdrop of growing political competition among Western Kenya leaders over Sifuna’s emerging presidential campaign.
“Malala, just relax. I don’t know why you’re so bothered about matters concerning Linda Mwananchi, yet you’re the DCP deputy party leader. I’m requesting you, Omwami, to focus on matters concerning DCP as we focus on Linda Mwananchi,” Sifuna responded later in his speech.
Khalwale has increasingly thrown his weight behind Sifuna, using Friday’s funeral to publicly endorse the Nairobi senator and call for the region to rally behind his presidential ambitions.
The Kakamega senator also revealed that Sifuna had been among the first leaders to stand with his family after Gloria’s death and had contributed KSh500,000 towards the funeral preparations.
Malala has previously backed Sifuna’s presidential ambitions, saying the opposition should give him the presidential ticket. In July, he warned that he would not support a united opposition ticket if Sifuna was excluded from the top positions.
