KAKAMEGA, Kenya – Senator Boni Khalwale has claimed there is a plan to arrest him ahead of Thursday’s highly anticipated Malava constituency by-election, linking the alleged plot to rising political activity in the area.
Speaking to journalists on Wednesday, Khalwale dismissed the reports as intimidation, vowing to remain visible and actively involved in the campaign.
“I hear from the grapevine that they want to arrest me. Please, don’t waste your fuel — I will either sleep in my home, which is very well known, or, in memory of Peter Soita Shitanda, I will sleep in his hotel in Malava,” Khalwale said. “Just come there, and I will accompany you in the usual way.”
The senator also alleged that his security detail, typically composed of six officers due to his role as Senate Majority Whip, had been withdrawn without explanation.
He claimed similar withdrawals had affected the security of Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, raising concerns over potential political targeting as the by-election approaches.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, however, dismissed allegations of politically motivated actions.
Speaking in Kasipul, Murkomen said the withdrawal of security details for Natembeya, Khalwale, and other VIPs followed National Police Service reports on misconduct by some attached officers.
“Any security measure taken by the National Police Service is to avoid crisis. If a police officer attached to a VIP is walking and working with goons, the best thing is to remove them,” Murkomen said.
The Malava by-election has drawn national attention, with UDA’s David Ndakwa and DAP-K’s Seth Panyako emerging as the leading candidates.
High-profile political figures, including Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, and Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya, have campaigned for Ndakwa.
Opposition leaders, including Eugene Wamalwa, Natembeya, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, and Khalwale, have backed Panyako.
Khalwale, a veteran politician, insisted that past confrontations would not deter him from campaigning.
“I have been arrested, teargassed, and shot at for many years. I was first teargassed at the age of 22… It’s nothing new,” he said.
The Malava seat fell vacant following the death of MP Moses Malulu Injendi on February 17.
Thursday’s by-election is among 24 across the country, including contests in Banissa, Ugunja, Mbeere North, Magarini, Kasipul, Baringo senatorial seat, and 17 ward-level polls.
