Oparanya clarifies claims of harbouring Kakamega senatorial ambitions
By Mabonga Makhanu, May 3, 2026Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has come out to dismiss rumours linking him to a potential Senate seat bid in the upcoming 2027 elections.
While speaking on the Ainea Nabwera talk show on Sunday, May 3, 2026, the outspoken cabinet secretary stated that he is already done with Kakamega County politics and that his current focus is on the national level, where he is serving in the cabinet.
He continued by saying that he will remain in the national government and will not return to county politics, where he previously served as governor for 10 years.
He clarified that his decision to focus on national politics does not strip him of the right to comment or participate in local political matters, adding that he is still a voter in Kakamega and has a right to express his views.
“Unajua wengine wanasema mimi nataka kuwa senator; hiyo ni maoni yao. Mimi sitaki kuwa senator; sitaki kuwa governor. Mimi tayari nimeenda to the national government. Mungu akinipa maisha nitasalia kwa national government,” Oparanya declared.
On his feud with Governor Fernandes Barasa, he dismissed any claims of conflict with the county boss he once supported to clinch the top county seat.
He said that his role is only to point out areas where he feels the administration is not delivering, adding that there is no way he can be at loggerheads with him since he is not interested in county politics and has chosen to focus on the national platform.
“Mimi sina tofauti yeyote na Mheshimiwa Barasa kwa sababu sitaki kuwa governor,” he made it clear.
Kakamega MPs demand
This comes days after ODM MPs from Kakamega County, led by Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, endorsed him for the deputy president position in 2027.
Oparanya came out to welcome the endorsement from his foot soldiers but insisted that, currently, he has no such ambitions and wants to concentrate on delivering his mandate as the cooperative’s cabinet secretary.
UDA-ODM talks
She insisted that Oparanya, who is the only son from the region holding such a high-profile office, must be included in the structured negotiations to represent the county and the region in the talks.