“Hiyo kiti ya Deputy President utaionea viusasa.” Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa warns Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and Small Business Wycliffe Oparanya that he will not get a DP slot because of his continued attacks on his administration.
Barasa said CS Oparanya has no qualities of leadership as he allegedly embezzled county funds when he was the governor. He revealed that Oparanya’s push to be named Deputy President will lead to President William Ruto’s failure to secure a second term.
“You have no capacity to deputise William Ruto. As Luhyas, we will not support that because you are a failure. You embezzled county funds, which my administration is trying to settle,” Barasa said.
Speaking during the official commissioning of the Shianda-level IV hospital in Mumias East Subcounty today, Governor Barasa criticised Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya for sabotaging his efforts to deliver his mandate.Fernandes Barasa revealed that Oparanya is leveraging ODM to threaten President William Ruto that if he does not pick him as his deputy, he will not get votes from the Western region.
Barasa urged the president to remain focused and not to lend an ear to Oparanya, who Barasa said has no influence in Kenyan politics. “Oparanya has no political influence. If you bank on him, you may fail terribly. He has divided Kakamega. Tell him to come back home to unite his house before asking for a DP slot,” Barasa added.
According to Governor Barasa, the Western region has many capable leaders who could serve as Deputy President, rather than relying on Oparanya.In addition, the county boss alleged that his predecessor betrayed Raila Odinga while he was alive, a pattern that has continued even after his death. He said Baba acknowledged him as the Kakamega County ODM chairperson, but Oparanya undermined him and picked Lugari Member of Parliament Nabii Nabwera as the de facto party chairperson. Barasa affirmed that he is the legitimate ODM chairperson and will continue following instructions from Oburu Odinga, but not from Oparanya, who appointed his own chairperson.
“Wewe Oparanya, you betrayed Baba Raila when he was still alive, and even today, you will not split ODM through your greed. As the party, we will defend it forever,” Barasa said.
On matters of Luhya unity, Barasa said the Luhya are united, but Oparanya is the one splitting them. He said he is playing dirty politics in the Western region, which may cost residents and President William Ruto. As much as Luhyas are backing Ruto’s re-election, a few people are busy building animosity between other leaders of goodwill who are pushing for developments.
He asked the residents to stop listening to leaders whose work is to push backwards Kenya’s transformation agenda and beyond the 2030 vision.”We have few people like Oparanya who are dividing Luhyas. I ask people of the Western to reject them because their work is to eat while others stuff,” Barasa warned.
The governor used the platform to call on residents of Kakamega to uphold his reelection for the second term because he had done what he had promised. He said a lot has been done under his leadership, where at least every primary school has a modern ECDE which is fully equipped with materials for learners. Further, he said all the projects that were left behind by Oparanya, including the Butere Level V hospital, are complete, the projects that guarantee his reelection. He affirmed his commitment to the people of Kakamega, stating that he is ready to listen to their views, and he warned his critics that they will see what they have never seen before.
“My work is seen; in every ward I have built an ECDE despite the huge debt that was left by Oparanya. I am sure you will re-elect me so that I can finish all projects that benefit my people,” he appealed.