Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has said it will take a while for members of the Luhya community to forgive opposition chief Raila Odinga.

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Khalwale said on Monday that the community that constitutes one of the largest tribes in the country has supported Raila for long and the former prime minister's decision to ditch it at a time it needed his support is unforgivable.

The Luhya community overwhelmingly voted for Raila during the 2007, 2013 and 2017 general elections.

He rekindled memories where Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula was bundled out of his prestigious Senate position of Minority Leader and replaced by Siaya Senator James Orengo, a close ally of Raila.

"We will consider our union with Raila because to us this is betrayal," he said as he spoke in Kakakema.

Khalwale is among leaders from Western Kenya who tirelessly campaigned for the opposition leader especially in Western region as Raila geared at ousting President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House.

The outspoken lawmaker at the same time proposed an alliance between Western and Rift Valley regions calling on Deputy President William Ruto to consider picking his running-mate from Western during the 2022 general polls.

Ruto intends to run for president in 2022 and has frequently been visiting Western looking for support.