Khalwale speaks out after photos of him carrying stones in Kibra went viral

Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has emerged with claims that goons from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) were behind the poor turnout in the Kibra by-election.

According to him, McDonald Mariga’s performance shows that it was a hotly contested poll and a formidable opponent for ODM candidate Imran Okoth.

“Congratulations Mariga for this result. Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula spoilt ua 5,275 and 260 votes respectively through their candidates. Thousands of ua would be female voters were scared off by those ODM party goons. U are the winner!” he said on Twitter on Friday.

The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) announced Okoth as the winner of the by-election after he garnered 24,636 votes.

Mariga, who was fronted by Jubilee party, came in second with 11,230 votes while Eliud Owalo (ANC) and Khamisi Butichi (Ford Kenya) came in third and fourth places respectively.

The former Senator, who is also a medical doctor, however did not address concerns over photos of him on social media carrying stones as the by-election was underway on Thursday.

Vitu kwa ground ni different,…… https://t.co/HiAJUVWj8i pic.twitter.com/2MZMdUYZDy

— Rodgers Nasengo (@RNasengo) November 7, 2019

Earlier in the day, he had visited different polling stations and at one point even said: “…it is voting not violence that counts at an election.”

He went to Shadrack Kimalel School, Upper Hill Polling Station and DC Polling Station where he accompanied Mariga.

However, a video later emerged of him being chased out of Laini Saba ward alongside pictures of him carrying stones.

Kenyans took to social media criticizing the former Senator.

Dr. Thuranira Kaugiria, who is the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentist Union (KMPDU) secretary general for Nairobi, was among those who called out the former Senator.

https://twitter.com/drthuranira/status/1192510026629439490?s=20

“Pictures are disheartening and sad. This man was once a kingpin of a whole community, he’s a medical doctor, the immediate former Senator of Kakamega County. Who or what reduced Boni Khalwale to this?” one Ahmed Mohamed posed.

Khalwale defected to the Jubilee party from Ford Kenya on May 17, 2019.

During a meeting with Deputy President William Ruto, Khalwale urged the Luhya community to abandon the opposition saying it is only the Jubilee party that can change the fortunes of Western Kenya.

On Thursday, Suna East MP Junet Mohammed retorted: “Political situation is the reason unbridled political ambitions often self-destroy.”

https://twitter.com/MutemiWaKiama/status/1192494742761811970

Am so proud of our people for turning out in their numbers to vote for @MarigaOfficial. Voting on going. Mariga has just visited us at DC Polling Station pic.twitter.com/kTdd51LBx0

— Dr Boni Khalwale, CBS (@KBonimtetezi) November 7, 2019