Boni Khalwale Takes Tumble During Kakamega Bullfighting Event as Viral Clip Sparks Mixed Reactions
Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale was at the centre of a dramatic moment during a traditional bullfighting event after a viral video captured the lawmaker taking a sudden tumble in front of a packed crowd.
The footage, which has been widely shared across social media platforms, shows the outspoken politician being hoisted onto a man’s shoulders as supporters sang, danced and waved sticks in celebration. Khalwale appeared to be enjoying the charged atmosphere as he was lifted above the crowd, chanting along as excitement built.
But the jubilant scenes quickly descended into chaos.
In the clip, the man carrying the senator appears to lose his balance and stumbles forward, sending both himself and Khalwale crashing to the ground. Gasps can be heard from onlookers as several men rush in to help the senator regain his footing, bringing the spectacle to a halt momentarily.
The fall has since sparked intense online debate, with some Kenyans dismissing it as harmless drama, while others questioned whether alcohol played a role and whether the veteran politician was injured.
“Never joke with bulls fed with buzaa. They can easily kill,” one user, Rodgers Kiprono, warned, as speculation mounted over the chaotic scenes.
The incident has also reignited memories of a far more tragic bullfighting episode linked to Khalwale. In 2024, one of his bulls fatally attacked his longtime caretaker, Kizito Moi Amukune, a man who had served the senator for two decades. The shocking death triggered national outrage, particularly after reports emerged that the caretaker had just collected his salary shortly before the attack.
At the time, Khalwale claimed the caretaker may have stopped at a drinking den before visiting the bull, alleging the animal mistook the smell of alcohol for molasses and became violently agitated.
The senator later ordered the bull to be killed in a ritual, publicly explaining that the animal had “committed murder” and could not be spared — a decision that divided public opinion.
Now, following the latest viral clip, critics have renewed calls for caution, with some urging Khalwale to step back from the physically demanding festivities. “Huyo seneta ni mzee, apigwe X-ray asiwe na internal injuries and pass the torch to younger generations,” one commenter wrote.
Others, however, brushed off the fall as part of the thrill that defines bullfighting culture. “This is part of the game. Falling and rising is normal,” another user insisted, as supporters defended the senator’s presence at the event.
As questions swirl over his safety and the circumstances surrounding the fall, Khalwale has yet to issue a statement on the incident. But the viral video continues to fuel speculation — and reignite controversy — over the senator’s long and dramatic relationship with bullfighting.
Also Read: Why ODM’s Sec Gen Edwin Sifuna is Under Fire After Nairobi’s South C’s Building Collapse
Boni Khalwale Takes Tumble During Kakamega Bullfighting Event as Viral Clip Sparks Mixed Reactions