The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has launched disciplinary proceedings against Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, accusing him of openly supporting a rival candidate in the upcoming Malava Constituency by-election.
In a strongly worded show-cause letter issued by the party’s Disciplinary Committee Chairperson, Charles Njenga, the senator is accused of engaging in political activities, utterances, and associations that amount to gross misconduct and disloyalty to the party.
According to the letter, which has been widely circulated in the media, the UDA Disciplinary Committee says it has “information and evidence” showing Khalwale’s active involvement in campaigns for a candidate from another political party who is competing against the official UDA nominee in Malava.
“The Disciplinary Committee of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party is in receipt of information and evidence of your various political activities, utterances and associations relevant hereto and, that are widely circulated in the media and therefore well within the public domain. These include but not limited to your open support and participation in the campaigns of a candidate from a different political party and who is competing with the UDA candidate in the scheduled by-election for Member of Parliament, Malava Constituency,” the letter reads in part.
“Your support for the said opposing candidate has been open, vocal, conspicuous and substantial as to clearly demonstrate that you are promoting a position that is against your own party’s interest and therefore acting outside the expected conduct of a member of the UDA party as expressly provided for in its constitution and code of conduct.”
The committee accuses the Kakamega Senator—who was elected on a UDA ticket—of acting outside the expected conduct of a member of the ruling party and violating the UDA Constitution and Code of Conduct, which require members to remain loyal and to promote party interests.
Njenga noted that Khalwale’s conduct “clearly demonstrates allegiance to another political party”, adding that such actions amount to gross misconduct and disloyalty.
The letter further cites Articles 68 and 69 of the UDA Constitution, which empower the party to take disciplinary action against members who breach party rules, and Article 4, which obligates members to observe discipline, popularise the party, and promote its official positions.
Khalwale has been given 14 days to respond and “show cause why appropriate disciplinary action should not be taken” against him. Should the committee find sufficient grounds to proceed, it will issue a formal summons for a disciplinary hearing at a date to be announced later.
The senator has also been informed that he has the right to represent himself or appear with an advocate during the proceedings.
UDA’s move marks a significant escalation in internal tensions within the ruling party, particularly in Western Kenya, where factional divisions have been emerging ahead of key by-elections.
The Malava parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of the area MP, Malulu Injendi, and the race has attracted intense political competition as parties jostle for influence in the region traditionally dominated by opposition-leaning leaders.
Khalwale, who also serves as the Senate Majority Whip, has been publicly supporting Seth Panyako of Eugene Wamalwa’s Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
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