• Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala publicly warned Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna against interfering in Kakamega's political affairs ahead of the 2027 elections
• Malala accused Senator Boni Khalwale and other veteran politicians of failing Kakamega residents and argued the county needs younger, energetic leadership
• Malala claimed he is working to deliver over 8 million Mt Kenya votes for Sifuna's presidential bid but fears Sifuna may back Khalwale over him in Kakamega
Former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has publicly cautioned Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna to stay out of Kakamega's political contests, as competition for the county's top seat intensifies ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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Addressing journalists in Kakamega Town, Malala, who serves as Deputy Party Leader of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), expressed concern that Sifuna might throw his weight behind Senator Boni Khalwale rather than him in the race for Kakamega gubernatorial leadership.
Malala Takes Aim at Khalwale
Malala dismissed Khalwale and other older politicians as unfit to lead the county forward, arguing that Kakamega's residents deserve a younger and more energetic leader capable of driving development.
"I am the only trusted leader who can propel Kakamega towards development, not old owls," Malala said.
He contended that politicians of Khalwale's generation have had ample time in public office but delivered little for ordinary residents, and that the county cannot remain under leaders whose political moment has, in his view, already expired.
"These old people have no future. Some are even our grandfathers, but they are still fighting us," he added.
Despite his criticism, Malala reaffirmed his backing for Sifuna's presidential ambitions, claiming he is mobilising more than 8 million votes from the Mt Kenya region on the senator's behalf. However, he said he suspects Sifuna has already settled on Khalwale as his preferred ally in Kakamega, a development he cautioned against.
Malala urged Sifuna to be selective about those he keeps close, warning that individuals without strong values could ultimately derail his presidential campaign. He drew a direct comparison to former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, suggesting that Odinga's political fortunes were undermined by those he trusted.
"Sifuna will win the next election, but he should not entertain brokers around him. Raila Odinga entertained betrayers who sent him to Bondo without his knowing, so Sifuna should be careful," Malala warned.
The remarks carry an implicit condition: that Sifuna's support from the Mt Kenya bloc should come with a degree of influence over who flies the flag in Kakamega.
The tension sits uneasily within what is publicly portrayed as a united political front. Malala previously endorsed Sifuna at a Linda Mwananchi rally in Kakamega, the movement's second stop on its Western Kenya tour, signalling solidarity on the presidential question while competing on the county one.
The dispute reflects a recurring dynamic in Kenyan coalition politics, where allies rally behind a single presidential candidate even as they jostle aggressively for control of local seats.
Source: TUKO.co.ke