Senator Khalwale Reveals He Asked Ruto Not to Attend Wife’s Burial

Senator Khalwale Reveals He Asked Ruto Not to Attend Wife’s Burial

Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale has revealed that he personally asked President William Ruto to stay away from the burial of his late wife, Gloria Sekeiyan Khalwale.

Khalwale made the revelation on Friday, August 21, during Gloria’s burial service at Malinya Stadium in Kakamega County, explaining why the Head of State was absent from the ceremony.

The senator said Ruto had contacted him before the funeral and asked for information on where his aircraft could land.

According to Khalwale, he communicated his response through the President’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.”

Khalwale said he wanted the funeral to remain a private family event and therefore requested that Ruto not attend.

“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.”

The remarks provided an explanation for Ruto’s absence from the high-profile funeral, which brought together political leaders, family members, friends and residents from Western Kenya.

Khalwale Claims Political Leaders Stayed Away

Khalwale also used the funeral to address the absence of several prominent leaders from the Western region.

Among those who did not attend were Senate Speaker Amason Kingi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula.

Kingi previously worked closely with Khalwale when the Kakamega senator served as Senate Majority Chief Whip.

Other senior leaders associated with the Kenya Kwanza administration and the broad-based government were also absent from the burial.

Khalwale suggested that political differences could have influenced the decision by some leaders to stay away.

However, opposition leaders attended the ceremony, including Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Homa Bay Senator Moses Kajwang.

Their presence provided a political dimension to an otherwise emotional family occasion.

Khalwale Backs Sifuna for President

During the burial, Khalwale openly endorsed Sifuna’s political ambitions, backing the Nairobi senator’s Linda Mwananchi movement as he positions himself for the 2027 General Election.

Khalwale urged residents of Western Kenya to consider supporting Sifuna, while criticising several senior leaders from the region.

He directed criticism at Wetang’ula, Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

Khalwale’s endorsement came as political parties and leaders intensify preparations for the 2027 presidential contest.

Sifuna has recently hinted at unveiling a political party after efforts to register the Linda Mwananchi outfit encountered challenges.

Sifuna Supported Khalwale After Wife’s Death

Khalwale also praised Sifuna for supporting him after the death of his wife.

He recalled that the Nairobi senator was among the first leaders to visit or contact the family after Gloria’s death.

Khalwale said Sifuna also contributed Ksh500,000 towards the funeral arrangements.

“Edwin Sifuna was among the first leaders to stand with me and my family after Gloria’s death, and he supported the funeral preparations.”

Gloria Sekeiyan died on August 15 after collapsing suddenly from what was suspected to be a heart attack.

She was survived by Khalwale and their eight children.

Her burial brought together mourners from across Kakamega and beyond, with political leaders using the occasion to pay tribute to her while also highlighting the evolving political alliances ahead of the 2027 elections.

Khalwale’s comments about Ruto’s absence, however, placed the relationship between the Kakamega senator and the Kenya Kwanza administration under fresh public scrutiny.

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Senator Khalwale Reveals He Asked Ruto Not to Attend Wife’s Burial