Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has revealed that he personally discouraged President William Ruto from attending the burial of his late wife, Gloria Sekeiyan Khalwale, saying he wanted the occasion to remain a dignified and private family event.
Speaking during the burial service at Malinya Stadium in Kakamega on Friday, August 21, Khalwale disclosed that Ruto had reached out to ask for coordinates for his plane to land ahead of the funeral.
Khalwale said he communicated his position through President William Ruto’s personal assistant, Farouk Kibet.
“William Ruto asked me to send coordinates for his plane to land. I told him through his PA, Farouk Kibet, that when someone is bereaved, you do not need to ask them to send you landing coordinates,” he said.
“I asked him that I want the burial service of my wife, the mother of my kids, to be as nice as this, that he should not come,” he added.
Khalwale also alleged that several senior leaders from Western Kenya deliberately stayed away from the funeral due to political differences with him.
Among those who were absent were Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, under whom Khalwale once served as Chief Whip, and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.
Other senior leaders allied to the Kenya Kwanza administration and the broad-based government also skipped the burial.
In contrast, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang, Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, DCP Deputy Party Ledaer Cleophas Malala, and other opposition leaders attended.
Khalwale used the occasion to endorse Sifuna’s presidential bid, praising him for being among the first leaders to reach out after Gloria’s death and for personally contributing KSh500,000 towards the funeral preparations.
He also used the platform to criticise Wetang’ula, Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Khalwale urged the Western Kenya region to unite behind Sifuna and the Linda Mwananchi movement as he builds momentum toward a presidential bid.
Gloria Sekeiyan Khalwale died on August 15 after suddenly collapsing from a suspected heart attack, leaving behind eight children.
