Deputy President William Ruto has brokered a deal whereby former legislator Boni Khalwale has dropped out of the Kakamega governor's race in favour of Senator Cleophas Malala.
Khalwale will instead go for the senatorial position while supporting Malala for the top county job.
Khalwale, popularly referred to as the Bullfighter, had been eyeing the seat on the UDA ticket, while Malala was expected to seek an ANC ticket.
Both UDA and ANC are in the Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
The two have been squabbling in public rallies over which of them is best suited to succeed Wycliffe Oparanya as governor.
Malala is the ANC Kakamega county chairman while Khalwale is the DP's point man in the region.
Malala will face Kakamega Deputy Governor Philip Kutima running on a DAP-K ticket, UDP party leader Cyrus Jirongo and former Ketraco CEO Fernandes Barasa eyeing the ODM ticket.
Announcing the deal on Wednesday at his Karen offices in Nairobi, Ruto said the agreement followed extensive consultations within Kenya Kwanza aimed at building a formidable coalition.
“This agreement is due to the spirit of give and take, the spirit of sacrifice and a clear demonstration of leadership acumen. We’ll now build a team around them," Ruto said.
"We have agreed that Khalwale’s sacrifice won’t go unrewarded."
ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula were present during the announcement.
Ruto said the talks were initiated by the two leaders before it was escalated to the top leadership of Kenya Kwanza.
He said the sacrifice by Khalwale to drop out of the race is part of Kenya Kwanza’s effort to build a leadership team able to address Kenya's challenges.
I have not stepped down. I have stepped up so I focus more on the common agenda that covers our people and the rest of the Kenyans
Mudavadi and Wetang'ula praised the two leaders for compromising.
Malala said he was humbled to accept the nomination and endorsement to run for governor.
“I want to thank my political father. Khalwale for ceding ground, and he has not done so because I am a better leader than him," he said.
"He has done so because of the sacrifice and the bigger picture Kenya Kwanza is looking at in the near future."
Khalwale said his decision was not about the position of governor but the welfare of the community.
“I have not stepped down," he said. "I have stepped up so I focus more on the common agenda that covers our people and also the rest of the Kenyans."
(Edited by V. Graham)
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