Deputy President William Ruto had promised to lobby for Dr Boni Khalwale's appointment to cabinet had he campaigned for Jubilee during October 2017 presidential repeat polls, it has emerged.
After months of anxiety and unpredictability, Dr Khalwale joined DP William Ruto's camp on Friday. He has often maintained that Luhya community should lobby for DP post in next government.
But after nullification of Uhuru Kenyatta's victory in 2017, Dr Ruto summoned Khalwale for a private meeting where he promised to have him in cabinet, an offer which the former senator rejected.
“He began by forgiving me for the verbal attacks and allegations I had unleashed on him during campaigns, noting that as a fellow politician, he understood better that I was only searching for votes. After exchanging niceties and discussing the campaigns, he then came to the main subject of our meeting — an offer of Cabinet position in the Jubilee administration,” Khalwale said in an interview.
“I told the ‘hustler’ (DP) that having actively campaigned for Nasa, and in particular hit him hard with all manner of corruption allegations, I was not going to be useful to the Jubilee campaign at the moment as many in my western Kenya backyard would equally find it hard to believe me,” recalled Khalwale
In response, Dr Ruto told Khalwale to prepare for future collaborations ahead of 2022 polls. Since then, the two have been traversing together in the vast Western Kenya region.
“Ni sawa, Daktari. Tutatembea barabara moja tu hivi karibuni kabla ya 2022,” (I understand, Dr Khalwale.
On Friday, Dr Khalwale promised to deliver for Dr Ruto in 2022 polls. He said that Ruto is in a pole position to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta upon retirement ahead of 2022 polls.
No doubt we shall team up soon ahead of 2022).“This time around we are doing it early so that we can have enough time to campaign for our man. My move is just part of a bigger political strategy for the DP’s 2022 presidential bid.”