Kakamega Senator Dr. Bonny Khalwale faces mounting pressure over allegations of political interference in school leadership transitions across Kakamega County.
Education stakeholders, community leaders, and elected officials have accused the Senator of manipulating appointments in key institutions, including Kakamega High School, by promoting loyalists through underhanded tactics.
At the centre of the controversy is Elphas Aliva Luvaso, the principal of Malava Boys High School, whom Khalwale is reportedly lobbying to replace outgoing Chief Principal Dr Julius Mambili at Kakamega High.
Luvaso’s candidacy has sparked outrage due to a history of administrative controversies at his previous schools.
Luvaso has served in several institutions including Taranganya, Musingu, and Teremi, where his tenure was marred by academic decline, exam malpractice, and violent unrest.
At Musingu, exam irregularities led to the cancellation of KCSE results and his subsequent interdiction. At Teremi, he was forced to flee through a window after parents and students revolted, his vehicle was torched during the incident. His posting to Malava Boys was similarly met with fierce local resistance.
Now, explosive new claims have revived an earlier scandal from the tenure of former Kakamega High School principal Gerald Orina.
It is alleged that Senator Khalwale orchestrated an arson attack on one of the school’s dormitories by hiring goons to sabotage Orina’s administration. Stakeholders claim the goal was to portray the principal as incompetent, thereby paving the way for political control of the institution.
In a related development, Hobunaka Boys principal Mr. Fredrick Mushira has been named as one of Khalwale’s key financiers in the ongoing campaign to influence school leadership.
Despite lacking the rank of Chief Principal, or even Senior Principal, Mushira is allegedly using large sums of money to lobby education officials and power brokers behind the scenes.
Lurambi MP Hon. Titus Khamala has strongly condemned the interference, calling it reckless and harmful to the education sector.
“We will not allow anyone, including Senator Khalwale, to hijack our institutions for selfish gain. Let the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) do its work independently and professionally,” said Khamala.
Khalwale is also accused of routinely exploiting clan and tribal alliances to dictate school leadership appointments across Kakamega County.
Critics argue his interference is not new, citing past efforts to undermine former Kakamega High School principal Oliver Minishi using similar tactics.
Education stakeholders are now demanding that the TSC conduct all principal appointments in Kakamega County with full independence and transparency.
They insist that schools, especially national institutions like Kakamega High, must be shielded from political meddling, bribery, and tribal interests.
TSC County Director Mr. Willy Koros has assured the public that there will be no leadership vacuum, stating that the transition at Kakamega High School will be handled professionally. Both deputy principals have been promoted, and a new principal is expected to be appointed in the coming days.
Top candidates include Dr Tom Shavisha of Senende School, Mr Bernard Lukuya of Musingu High School, and the embattled Mr Luvaso of Malava Boys. However, pressure is mounting to reject any candidate linked to political interference or backdoor deals.
Mike Musambai, a principal of a local day school in Bungoma county and a brother to the newly appointment Permanent Secretary Dr Jane Imbunya is also in the Kakamega school succession matrix.
Dr Jane Imbunya has allegedly been making frantic calls at the TSC to have him moved from a day school in Bungoma to take over Kakamega School because he comes from around.
It saddens that leaders have stooped too low to an extent of pushing nepotism to an extent that those able to lead but lack connection risk missing out
With the transition expected next week, education stakeholders have vowed to defend the integrity of Kakamega County’s schools against sabotage and external manipulation.
