Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale speaking on October 4, 2026 / SCREENGRAB
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has claimed that leaders backing Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna deliberately floated several political parties as “decoys” to conceal the vehicle they were preparing for his 2027 presidential bid.
Speaking during the launch of The Equitable Party (TEP) in Nairobi on Sunday, Khalwale said the group had adopted the strategy after sensing that the government was keen on frustrating Sifuna’s efforts to secure a political party.
He said the leaders deliberately presented different parties as possible political vehicles for Sifuna, while keeping TEP away from public attention until the right time.
“I want to tell the government that they are dealing with a group of thinkers. When we saw that you were planning to frustrate Edwin Sifuna on the issue of parties, we decided to give it to you,” Khalwale said.
He cited several parties that he said were used as decoys, starting with Siaya Governor James Orengo’s National Liberal Party.
“We said that Siaya governor has his own party known as National Liberal, which was a decoy,” Khalwale said.
He added that Embakasi East MP Babu Owino’s Mwananchi party and Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya’s United Democratic Party (UDP) were also presented as possible options.
“We said that Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has his own party known as Mwananchi, decoy as well. We said that Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has his party, UDP, also a decoy,” he said.
Khalwale said he later offered his United Patriotic Movement (UPM) as another possible vehicle when the group believed TEP could be discovered.
“The other day when everything was almost ready and they were about to discover about TEP, we said, 'I have my party UPM,' which was also a decoy. Now what will the government do?” he said.
Babu Owino responded to Khalwale's remarks jokingly, insisting that his party was genuine.
“And Khalwale, mine is not a decoy; this is legit,” Babu said.
Khalwale also used the occasion to urge Sifuna to work with senior opposition leaders as he seeks to build support for his presidential bid.
He told Sifuna that reaching the point of seeking the presidency was difficult and that he would need the support of experienced political leaders.
“Edwin, it takes some people a very long time to get there. Edwin, it takes some people a lifetime to get there. And Edwin, it takes others all the time, but they never get there,” Khalwale said.
He said Sifuna could not achieve his ambitions alone and would need to work with leaders including James Orengo, Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua and Eugene Wamalwa.
“You are going to need to stand on the shoulders of James Orengo. You will need to humble yourself and stand on the shoulders of Riggy G. You will need to humble yourself, and I mean it, to stand on the shoulders of Kalonzo Musyoka. On the shoulders of Mother Karua. On the shoulders of your elder brother, Eugene Wamalwa,” he said.
Khalwale said leaders could not simply be compelled to support Sifuna but would have to be persuaded.
“For a man to give you his shoulders, you cannot force them. You persuade them. You beg them,” he said.
Sifuna was on Sunday formally unveiled as the preferred presidential candidate of TEP, which is now his political vehicle for the 2027 General Election. TEP party leader Gilbert Marava said the party had restructured its leadership to accommodate Sifuna and his supporters.
The development followed weeks of uncertainty over the political party Sifuna and his allies would use in the 2027 race, with several parties having been discussed by the Linda Mwananchi movement.
Khalwale had earlier said the final decision on the political vehicle would be left to Sifuna.
