Khalwale warns of waning support for President Ruto in Western

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has told President William Ruto that the Western region will not support him in the 2027 polls if he fails to implement his development promises.

He said the president risks losing the support of the country's second-largest voting bloc due to his bromance with ODM leader Raila Odinga and his unfulfilled promises to the Western region.

Speaking in Ikolomani, Khalwale, the Majority Whip in the Senate, said the perception that the President shifted his development agenda to Nyanza will affect his support base in Western.

"I am the one who brought President Ruto to Western, and yet as a region, we are still where we were in terms of development.

"All kinds of developments are going to people who opposed your presidency, led by Raila Odinga. Those who opposed you are benefiting more than those who supported you," said Khalwale.

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However, a week ago, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, while at an event in Busia County, blamed governors, senators, and MPs for a lack of projects from the national government.

Wetangula said the people of Western should not blame him, stating that he had organised a meeting between the president and all leaders to discuss development.

"No one should blame me if our region does not develop. I organised a meeting between the head of state and all elected leaders from our region. If our region misses out on development, they should be the ones to shoulder the blame because it means they did not bargain well for the development of their people, said Wetangula.

Wetangula said many of the stalled and newly initiated mega projects, like roads, have been budgeted in the 2025/2026 financial year budget and will soon commence.

Three months ago, during a tour of the Western region, President Ruto promised to complete stalled projects, including the C41 road connecting Kakamega and Bungoma, Bukhungu International Stadium, Kakamega Level Six Referral Hospital, upgrading Kakamega Airstrip to an airport, and reviving Mumias and Nzoia sugar factories.

However, three months down the line, residents are still waiting for the completion and construction of the projects despite numerous visits by leaders from the region to the State House in Nairobi for development visits.

A month ago, Khalwale hit out at President Ruto for allegedly betraying the Western region, urging him to fulfil all promises made to Western residents.

The outspoken senator said the Western region had many stalled projects that the Head of State had publicly promised to complete.

“It is now three years, and we have stalled roads, and the story is the same. We are in the third year of this government's term. We do not want more promises, said Khalwale.

Khalwale vowed not to remain quiet when the region is being taken for a ride.

“We want the president to deliver and not mere promises. I have told him, as Khalwale, to deliver, and I promise never to play the politics of being quiet like Mudavadi and Wetangula,” he said.

The UDA senator said late President Mwai Kibaki reciprocated the region's support by implementing several development projects.