Homa Bay County Governor Gladys Wanga caused a stir at Mabole Primary School in Butere after misnaming the Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary, Wycliffe Oparanya, and confusing him with Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa.

This happened during the party’s Linda Ground forum held at Oparanya’s home ground in Butere on Sunday, January 18, 2025, where hundreds of ODM delegates from Kakamega who seemed to be allied to the cooperative CS turned up to endorse the ODM–UDA pre-coalition talks as proposed by the party’s Central Management Committee (CMC) meeting held in Vipingo, Kilifi County.

The name mix-up occurred during Gladys Wanga’s acknowledgement of leaders present, where she mistakenly mentioned Governor Barasa instead of Oparanya.

“Our party leader Oburu Odinga, Waziri wetu FCPA Fernandez Barasa… na viongozi wote,” Wanga said.

She went ahead to rectify the mess and correctly identify Oparanya by name, which saw the crowd quell.

The error drew attention, given the ongoing fallout between Oparanya and Governor Barasa.

Which saw Oparanya endorse Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda to challenge Barasa in the 2027 gubernatorial race after the escalation of their rift.

The rift between the two leaders has seen the Linda Ground forums being held in two distinct locations within the county. The first was held near Oparanya’s home, where he hosted ODM party leader Oburu Odinga at the venue.

Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who supports Oparanya, is also at loggerheads with Governor Barasa. The dispute emerged in 2025 following wrangles over the county ODM leadership after Barasa was declared the duly elected county chairman—a result Nabii Nabwera disputed, prompting his protest.

Oparanya-Barasa function

The group led by Oparanya and supported by the majority of Kakamega MPs held the Butere chapter of the forum, while a separate event spearheaded by the governor was also organised in Kakamega Town.

Oburu Odinga is expected to attend both events, first gracing the forum hosted by the Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary before proceeding to Kakamega Town to attend Governor Barasa’s function.

Kakamega ODM delegates have called on Oburu Odinga to address the rift within the party in the county between the faction led by the governor and the one aligned to the Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary.

Oparanya attacking Barasa

During the Butere Linda Ground forum, Oparanya appeared to launch subtle attacks on Fernandes Barasa, stating that he commands the support of the majority of MPs from Kakamega County.

He pointed out the MPs present at the event, together with the woman representative, claiming that the governor is politically isolated and that MPs cannot blindly follow him.

He went ahead to name the Kakamega MPs, many of whom are serving second and third terms in Parliament, to emphasise that he enjoys broader support than the governor.

According to Oparanya, the governor is an isolated figure with little backing from local leaders.