Khalwale, Cheruiyot clash over who should be President between Raila and Ruto
Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot and former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale have clashed over who should win next year's presidential election.
In a tweet, Senator Cheruiyot jokes that whether it's Raila Odinga or William Ruto who wins next year's presidential contest, the Nilotes would have won, going by the fact that the two are both Nilotes.
Raila is River-Lake Nilote while Ruto is Highland Nilote.
@Aaroncheruiyot wrote: "The Nilotes size each other up. The Nilotes Derby on 9th Aug 2022 will be one like no other. Good thing, it will be home either way."
Cheruiyot's tweet attracted an unfavourable response from Khalwale who accused the Kericho senator of perpetuating tribal politics.
Khalwale said Cheruiyot's sentiments would drastically reduce the gains Ruto has made in wooing other communities to back his presidential bid.
"Kenyans will be voting for a Kenyan. Not a Nilote! Abandon this ethnic thing unless u want to reverse the huge gains we have made for @WilliamsRuto in the non-Nilotic voting block," Khalwale wrote.
Khalwale was an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party member and a fierce defender of Raila between 2013 and 2017 before he crossed over to Ruto's camp.
He will be vying for Kakamega governor seat on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket next year.
Senator Cheruiyot on the other hand is seeking to take over from Paul Chepkwony as Kericho governor in next year's polls on UDA ticket.
