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Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has set tongues wagging following his meetings with two of the contenders seeking governorship in 2027.

Oparanya hosted Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale for breakfast at his Imabole home in Butere Constituency on Sunday morning only to hold another meeting with Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda later in the day.

 Khalwale and Mrs. Muhanda have both declared their bids to dethrone Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa in the 2027 elections.

The senator has been an avowed nemesis of Oparanya and unsuccessfully vied against him in 2017.

After the meeting with the Senator, Oparanya said he has agreed to support Khwalwale for the Kakamega governorship in 2027, while the Senator has also agreed to reciprocate by supporting the former governor for whatever seat he may decide to contest for in the next general election.

“I and Senator Khalwale have decided to bury our differences and work together for the sake of development in Kakamega. We have also agreed to support each other in 2027, with me backing the Senator for the position of governor,” Khalwale said.

The ODM deputy leader however did not address journalists after his meeting with Ms Muhanda.

Muhanda has been Oparanya’s trusted ally of many years and served as his County Executive for Health and Trade before becoming County MP. Oparanya and Muhanda, who both belong to ODM, are said to have fallen out with Barasa immediately after the August 29, 2022 elections due to unknown differences.

Interestingly, the former county chief had joined Barasa in an event in Likuyani Constituency on Saturday before hosting Khalwale and Muhanda on Sunday.

Political commentators and leaders said yesterday that Oparanya appears to be worming back into the local politics by playing the central role of determining who clinches the governorship and other seats in 2027.

“Oparanya is one of the deputy party leaders of ODM and is working round the clock to ensure the party retains its standing in Kakamega and other parts of the Western region as one way of pacifying his position and political significance,” said Fred-Harrison Wesonga, a local political pundit.

It was telling that Khalwale was accompanied by former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito, another of his former political nemeses, at the meeting with Oparanya.

Also present was former Isukha East MCA Samuel Limisi, who recently attended an event at the home of Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana during which he pleaded for a job in Kenya Kwanza Government.

So was Lurambi MP Titus Khamala, a known political ally of Barasa. Bishop Khamala spent the entire Friday with the governor as he launched a series of development projects in his Constituency.

Muhanda is said to have roped in Desterio Okumu, another political analyst from the county, to convince Oparanya to hand her the ODM ticket. Oparanya and the Woman Representative are opposed to the take-over of ODM in the County by Barasa. Both Khalwale and Muhanda said yesterday that Oparanya had assured them of his support to unseat Barasa.

“The former governor promised his support for my bid and I do not take that lightly,” Khalwale said.

He, however, dispelled speculations that he was planning to decamp from UDA to the Orange party.

The senator is currently engaged in fierce battles with Secretary-General Cleophas Malalah over control of UDA in the County. “Malalah is killing UDA in Kakamega by turning into a family and boys’ club affair. His father David Meja Malala calls himself the party coordinator while his stepmother Jackline Okanya is the Vice-Chair. Is this fair?” he posed.

Khalwale added that Malalah had further appointed his allies to positions in the head-office without regard for merit and equity.   by Dennis Lumiti

@PeopleDailyKe

Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has set tongues wagging following his meetings with two of the contenders seeking governorship in 2027.

Oparanya hosted Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale for breakfast at his Imabole home in Butere Constituency on Sunday morning only to hold another meeting with Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda later in the day.

 Khalwale and Mrs. Muhanda have both declared their bids to dethrone Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa in the 2027 elections.

The senator has been an avowed nemesis of Oparanya and unsuccessfully vied against him in 2017.

After the meeting with the Senator, Oparanya said he has agreed to support Khwalwale for the Kakamega governorship in 2027, while the Senator has also agreed to reciprocate by supporting the former governor for whatever seat he may decide to contest for in the next general election.

“I and Senator Khalwale have decided to bury our differences and work together for the sake of development in Kakamega. We have also agreed to support each other in 2027, with me backing the Senator for the position of governor,” Khalwale said.

The ODM deputy leader however did not address journalists after his meeting with Ms Muhanda.

Muhanda has been Oparanya’s trusted ally of many years and served as his County Executive for Health and Trade before becoming County MP. Oparanya and Muhanda, who both belong to ODM, are said to have fallen out with Barasa immediately after the August 29, 2022 elections due to unknown differences.

Interestingly, the former county chief had joined Barasa in an event in Likuyani Constituency on Saturday before hosting Khalwale and Muhanda on Sunday.

Political commentators and leaders said yesterday that Oparanya appears to be worming back into the local politics by playing the central role of determining who clinches the governorship and other seats in 2027.

“Oparanya is one of the deputy party leaders of ODM and is working round the clock to ensure the party retains its standing in Kakamega and other parts of the Western region as one way of pacifying his position and political significance,” said Fred-Harrison Wesonga, a local political pundit.

It was telling that Khalwale was accompanied by former Shinyalu MP Justus Kizito, another of his former political nemeses, at the meeting with Oparanya.

Also present was former Isukha East MCA Samuel Limisi, who recently attended an event at the home of Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana during which he pleaded for a job in Kenya Kwanza Government.

So was Lurambi MP Titus Khamala, a known political ally of Barasa. Bishop Khamala spent the entire Friday with the governor as he launched a series of development projects in his Constituency.

Muhanda is said to have roped in Desterio Okumu, another political analyst from the county, to convince Oparanya to hand her the ODM ticket. Oparanya and the Woman Representative are opposed to the take-over of ODM in the County by Barasa. Both Khalwale and Muhanda said yesterday that Oparanya had assured them of his support to unseat Barasa.

“The former governor promised his support for my bid and I do not take that lightly,” Khalwale said.

He, however, dispelled speculations that he was planning to decamp from UDA to the Orange party.

The senator is currently engaged in fierce battles with Secretary-General Cleophas Malalah over control of UDA in the County. “Malalah is killing UDA in Kakamega by turning into a family and boys’ club affair. His father David Meja Malala calls himself the party coordinator while his stepmother Jackline Okanya is the Vice-Chair. Is this fair?” he posed.

Khalwale added that Malalah had further appointed his allies to positions in the head-office without regard for merit and equity.