Oparanya accuses Barasa of being behind his EACC woes
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 20, 2025Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has accused Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa of being behind his recent battles with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).
Speaking in Lurambi on Friday, September 20, 2025, Oparanya, who has in recent months faced scrutiny over his tenure as Kakamega governor, claimed that his successor has been forwarding his files to the EACC in an attempt to implicate him.
The former governor defended his record, insisting that he had done nothing illegal while in office. He further asked to be exempted from county politics, arguing that his work in Kakamega spoke for itself.
“Nikisema mambo ya Kakamega muniwache, yeye ndiye anabeba files zangu anapeleka EACC. Nini nilifanya hapa? Maendeleo ile nilifanya hapa, yeye amefanya,” Oparanya said.
Oparanya also added that Barasa, together with his deputy governor, has been invoking his name in every forum instead of focusing on their current role.
“Yeye anajiona mtu mkubwa sana; kazi yake ni kuongelea Oparanya hata kama nalala natembea; kazi yake ni kuniongolea, hata sifikirii yeye,” he stated.
He went ahead to dare Barasa for a political contest, challenging him to convene a political gathering in Bukhungu stadium to test who between them is the most popular since, according to Oparanya, in the recent past Barasa has been equating himself to him, thinking that they are on the same page politically.
“Yeye anajiona mtu mkubwa sana; kazi yake ni kuongelea Oparanya hata kama nalala natembea; kazi yake ni kuniongolea, hata sifikirii yeye,” he stated.
In response to this, Oparanya declared doom for the current Kakamega County leadership, saying that due to constant provocation from them despite him assuming a national role, he is over and over being dragged into county politics.
Barasa-Oparanya fallout
Barasa was brought to the Kakamega political scene by Oparanya himself. In the run-up to the 2022 elections, Oparanya came out wholeheartedly to endorse Barasa as his successor, who was then serving in KETRACO as the CEO.
Oparanya went against his then deputy, who had rallied behind him for 10 years and who was also interested in vying for the gubernatorial seat for Fernandez Barasa. But now it seems the two have fallen apart.