This archive report was first published on 19 August 2019.
On May 17, 2019, Deputy President William Ruto welcomed former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale to his camp in a lavish ceremony at Khalwale's home. However, it appears that nothing has been formalized, and Khalwale has not been accepted into the ruling Jubilee Party.
According to Raphael Tuju, the Secretary General of Jubilee Party, there are no plans to receive Khalwale as a member of the party. When asked about the status of Khalwale's defection from Ford-Kenya, Tuju responded, 'There are no such plans that I know of.'
It has also emerged that Ford-Kenya had not received Khalwale's resignation from the party, further casting doubt on the legitimacy of the defection. During the ceremony, Khalwale received branded items from the ruling party, including the famous red hat.
Boni Khalwale has been a key supporter of Deputy President William Ruto, laying the groundwork for Ruto's visits to the Western region.
