Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale addresses a press conference at Murhanda, Shinyalu. On Tuesday, December 28, 2021, Khalwale condemned COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli for inviting ODM leader Raila Odinga as the chief guest for the planned Bukhungu II meeting on December 31. Khalwale argued that it was “politically insensitive” to impose Odinga on the Luhya community, claiming that the region had already supported the former Prime Minister for over 15 years without significant economic returns. He asserted that the meeting was a “one-man show” designed to auction the community’s interests ahead of the 2022 General Election. As a key ally of Deputy President William Ruto, Khalwale urged the Mulembe nation to reject the Bukhungu declarations, instead advocating for a leadership that prioritizes local economic empowerment over political endorsements. He further challenged Atwoli to focus on labor issues rather than “playing the role of a political broker” for the opposition. December 28, 2021.