Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has pledged unwavering support for Deputy President William Ruto who is eyeing the presidency in the 2022 general election.
Khalwale has been under pressure from a section of Western Kenya leaders to abandon the DP and support area politicians who have declared interest in the race to the State House.
They include Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his FORD-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang'ula.
Governors Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega) and Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) have also hinted at going for the top seat although they are not considered as favourites.
In a tweet on Wednesday, Khalwale, who is FORD-Kenya deputy party leader, reaffirmed his support for Ruto and vowed not to back down.
He said he was taking a bold decision just like the one DP took when he agreed to work with President Uhuru Kenyatta despite facing opposition in his backyard.
"In 2013 William Ruto made a difficult decision to work with Uhuru Kenyatta despite the 2007/08 post-election violence. Skeptics never gave it a chance! I’ve made an equally firm decision to work with the DP. And that is final! Thank u our people for the support u keep giving my endorsement of the DP," he posted.
In an exclusive interview on NTV on Monday, Khalwale asked his critics to let him be and pledged to deliver massive votes for the Jubilee deputy party leader just like he did for NASA leader Raila Odinga in 2017 polls.
"If it was right for me to support Raila until he got the kind of votes he got in NASa, what is wrong in providing that kind of support elsewhere?" posed the former legislator.
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