Bonny Khalwale is a Kenyan politician, who was a former Senator for Kakamega County and a former medical officer and was also chairman of the Parliamentary Accounts Committee in the 10th Kenyan Parliament, where Khalwale made a reputation for leading censure motions against high profile cabinet ministers. Khalwale was appointed on a similar role in the 11th Kenyan Parliament. However, he was removed from the role few years to the 2017 General Election because that he could no longer be impartial in his work having publicly declared his intention to vie for the Kakamega County’s Gubernatorial Seat.
Age
Khalwale was born in August 5th, 1960, Kakamega County.
Education
From 1967 to 1974, he attended Malinya Primary School (CPE) for his primary education and later from 1975 to 1978, joined Musingu High School (EACE). He went to Kakamega High School (KACE) from 1979 to 1980. He passed well secured a place at University of Nairobi for his Doctor of Medicine.
Wife
Bonny Khalwale got married to three wives. His first wife was Adelide Khalwale who died few years ago, the second Josephine Khalwale and the third Diana Khalwale. He lives a polygamous lifestyle, having three wives and several children.
Family
Khalwale was born in a peasant family and was the son of an industrialist, where his mother used to make and sell chang’aa – alcoholic brew to make ends meets. Khalwale has two brothers, Gaeb Ashiono Khalwale and Henry Khayati Khalwale.
Bonny Khalwale Politics
Khalwale first ventured into politics in 2002 by winning the Ikolomani Constituency Parliamentary Seat on a NARC party ticket and in 2007 he retained the same seat on a New Ford Kenya party ticket. His 2007 Kenyan parliamentary election was nullified in February 2011 and later won back his Ikolomani seat on 23 May 2011, beating off a strong challenge from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), the dominant party in the region.
His victory, popularly referred to as the bullfighter, over Mr Shinali, whom he defeated with a slim margin of 200 votes in the 2007 elections, must came in the wake of high profile campaigns mounted by the then Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leadership led by Deputy Prime Minister Mudavadi. The defeat was seen as a blow not only to Musalia Mudavadi but also ODM which was restamping its authority in the region where it has more members of parliament than any other across the country and as a boost to the presidential ambitions Eugene Wamalwa who together with Housing minister Soita Shitanda for the New Ford Kenya candidate. The by-election was unique since attracted leaders Cyrus Jirongo, Mukhisa Kituyi, Martha Karua and Peter Kenneth to campaign for him. The teams were seen to have come together based on their political activism relationship.
Khalwale comfortably contested and won the Kakamega Senatorial seat on a UDF Party ticket garnering 248,888 votes seeing off a lesser challenge from the wealthy and flamboyant Lugari politician Cyrus Jirongo who got 145,736 votes in 2012. He has had a poor working relationship with the party that sponsored him to Parliament for most of his life as a senator. Khalwale’s public quarrels with UDF leader Musalia Mudavadi displayed him as a rebel who used the party ticket for his own selfish gain.
Bonny Khalwale Career
He started as Medical Officer who worked as a doctor of Private Medical Practice in Mombasa and Kakamega. Later he changed his career from medical to politics where he vied for Member of Parliament seat for Ikolomani. In 2006, he became an assistant Minister of East African Community and 2007 was a member of New Ford Kenya. In 2013, he won member of parliament seat for Ikolomani and was a Member of Amani (Peace) Coalition. From 2013 to 2017, he was a Senator for Kakamega County.
Bonny Khalwale Son
Bonny’s son, Leone Khalwale was believed to have committed a crime that led to his arrest. Though the reason for his arrest had not been revealed. This led to mixed reactions as supporters of Bonny clashed with supporters allied to former Nairobi Governor, Evans Kidero at Milimani Law Court.
