Khalwale: Is he a political gun for hire or reformist?

The most daring thing he has ever done, says Dr Bonny Khalwale, the Ikolomani MP, was joining the 1982 abortive coup against the government of former President Daniel arap Moi. At the time, Dr Khalwale was a first year student at the University of Nairobi.

With five colleagues, among them Dr Shem Ochuodho, Mr David Murathe and student leader Titus Adungosi, now deceased, the MP stormed the Voice of Kenya station (now Kenya Broadcasting Corporation) and announced that university students were in full support of the coup.

Dr Ochuodho and Mr Murathe became MPs after the start of pluralistic politics.

On August 1, 1982, the coup plotters, among them their leader Hezekiah Ochuka, an Air Force captain, were taken aback at the blind courage of the young men.

Nonetheless, they allowed the students to make their statement to show that their cause had wide support.

“I can’t help but laugh when I think about it today,” says Dr Khalwale. “I never even thought about the danger I was exposing myself to.”

But he quickly adds that he would willingly put his life on the line again if he believed that it was in the best interest of the nation. “I always act on my convictions.

"I believed what I was doing was the right thing then. And if called upon to rise once again, I shall not fail,” says the 49-year-old father of seven.

That dare-devil act, at the age of 22, earned him a one and half year suspension from university. But he has no regrets — that bravery launched his political career.

“People at home realised that I had leadership qualities. Perhaps they thought I was a little bit weird, but they gave me a hearing nonetheless,” says the fourth born in a family of 10.

Narc wave

But it was not until 20 years later that he made it to Parliament. He first clinched the Ikolomani seat in 2002 on a Ford Kenya ticket, riding on the Narc wave that swept independence party Kanu from power.

“That victory was the culmination of many years of struggle and hard work. It was indeed sweet victory for Kenyans who were yearning for radical reforms,” he says.

Prior to winning the seat, he had cut his political teeth as the Western Province coordinator of the National Convention Executive Council, the opposition outfit that pushed for reforms during the Moi era. Being an official of NCEC provided him with an ideal forum to interact and sell his agenda to the people.

Other members of the NCEC at the time included Mr Mwai Kibaki, now the president, Mr James Orengo (now Lands minister) and Prof Kivutha Kibwana.