Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna is received at Malinya Stadium for the burial ceremony of Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale's wife, Gloria Sekeyian, August 21, 2026. /EDWIN SIFUNAKakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has expressed optimism that Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna will emerge victorious in the 2027 presidential contest, pledging to rally the county to vote for him at the polls.
Speaking on Friday during the burial ceremony of his wife, Gloria Sekeyian Khalwale, at Malinya Stadium in Ikolomani constituency, Khalwale took pride in Sifuna's rising political profile, describing him as the next president.
Speaking in his native dialect, Khalwale rallied the county to put all its votes into one basket — that of Sifuna.
"All of you people of Kakamega, I want all your one million votes of Kakamega county to be for Edwin. I want when I meet with Ruto, I will tell him, 'Mr former President, how are you doing? How does it feel?'"
Sifuna, who was present at the ceremony, received an overwhelming reception upon arrival at the venue, with mourners and supporters cheering as he made his way into the stadium.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna arrives at Malinya Stadium to console with Senator Boni Khalwale during the burial ceremony of his wife Gloria Sekeyian, August 21, 2026. /EDWIN SIFUNAKhalwale asked the mourners to be patient, saying Sifuna would address them at the right time and would have ample time to do so.
The Kakamega senator was elected on a UDA ticket in the 2022 elections but recently joined the Sifuna-led Linda Mwananchi movement and has become one of his most vocal campaign mouthpieces in the opposition ranks.
Sifuna has signalled a 2027 presidential bid, transforming the Linda Mwananchi movement into a political platform after breaking away from the ODM party following the death of former party leader Raila Odinga.
Championed by youth and regional allies, his campaign has gained momentum as seasoned opposition politicians seek to rally behind a single candidate to face President William Ruto at the ballot.
Khalwale asked the clergy present at the ceremony to pray for Sifuna's protection, saying the task ahead of him presents "serious security implications" as the country edges closer to the 2027 General Election.
Gloria, Khalwale's third wife, died suddenly on the morning of August 15 after collapsing at home.
Her body arrived at Khalwale's home from Mukumu Funeral Home on Thursday, August 20, for a night vigil ahead of Friday's burial.
