We do not recognise Barasa as ODM chairman, Oparanya says

ODM leaders in Kakamega county are embroiled in a fierce battle after the controversial election of Governor Fernandes Barasa (pictured) as its chairman.

On one hand is Barasa while his predecessor Wycliffe Oparanya and Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda are on the other.

Oparanya and Muhanda insisted yesterday that they did not recognise the governor as the Orange party’s new County Chairman.

Barasa was elected by a number of MCAs and party grassroots leaders at the weekend.

But Oparanya and Muhanda said they did not recognise the exercise. “ODM is currently busy with more important national matters and we have a clear programme of holding elections by, latest, next year. So why not adhere to the party’s timetable?” posed Oparanya.

Speaking in Kakamega town, the former county chief wondered why he was not involved in the process yet he is the party’s deputy leader.

His statement comes in the wake of concerns by Barasa’s camp that the former governor was working in cahoots with the Woman Representative to undermine his administration.

Last month, Barasa accused Oparanya, Muhanda and some unnamed contractors of funding a smear campaign against him.

The Oparanya faction is said to be plotting to front Muhanda as ODM’s gubernatorial candidate with Oparanya as the senate candidate in  2027. “The procedure is my biggest concern. How can somebody gather his workers to install him as chairman without following the rules and regulations?” Muhanda posed to the People Daily yesterday.

She dismissed claims that she is  eyeing the seat to aid her governorship bid in 2027.

Oparanya and Muhanda declared that they would not recognise Barasa as their new chairman and warned that the party would break into two factions if nothing was done.

But the governor was defended by a section of ODM Ward Representatives who said he was best-suited to spearheaded efforts to maintain and revive ODM’s fortunes in the county.