Boni Khalwale has dropped his bid to become the next Kakamega Governor in favour of Senator Cleophas Malala.

Khalwale announced his decision to quit the gubernatorial race on Wednesday at Deputy President William Ruto’s Karen residence.

He said that he was not stepping down rather stepping up in order to focus more on their common agenda.

"I have not stepped down. In fact, I have stepped up so that I focus more on the common agenda that covers our people and also the rest of Kenyans," Khalwale said. 

During the same presser, Khalwale declared his interest in Kakamega senatorial seat.

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"I am presenting myself as the candidate in 2022, for the position of the senator of the county of Kakamega in the senate of Kenya," Khalwale declared.

Senator Malala who was present at the presser accepted the gesture and thanked Khalwale for the move. Malala said Khalwale’s sacrifice was for the bigger picture Kenya Kwanza was painting and not out of weakness.

“The leadership of Kenya Kwanza, with a lot of humility I wish to accept the nomination and endorsement for me to run as the Governor of Kakamega County and most importantly thank my political father, Hon. former senator Boni Khalwale for ceding ground and he has not done so because I am a better leader than him no. He has done so because of the sacrifice and the bigger picture Kenya Kwanza is looking at in the near future,” Malala said.

Malala also promised their opponents to brace for a gruesome battle now that they are in tandem with Khalwale and promised to deliver Kakamega to Kenya Kwanza’s hands.

“Therefore I also want to commit myself. We have a lot of work to do before us and as a team, we are going to deliver Kakamega County to be a Kenya Kwanza zone. So to our opponents brace yourself for a fierce fight because a combination of Malala and Khalwale I think you know the results,” Malala said.

Malala also thanked Kenya kwanza leadership for working out the agreement.

Also present during the briefing was DP Ruto, Rigathi Gachagua, Ndindi Nyoro, Moses Wetangula, Musalia Mudavadi among other UDA leaders.