Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has launched a scathing attack on Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa, daring him to convene a political rally in Bukhungu Stadium to test their popularity.

While speaking during an event in Lurambi on Friday, September 19, 2025, according to Oparanya, Barasa, for the recent past has been equating himself with him, thinking that they are on the same level politically.

Oparanya continued to state 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.

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He went further to downplay Barasa’s political weight, as he refers to him as his junior in politics.

“Yeye ni mtu mdogo mbele yangu; he is a junior fellow in front of me, and nakama anataka aite mkutano kule Bukhungu Stadium tuone wananchi wataheshimu nani,” he added.

Oparanya further questioned Barasa’s achievement in the past 2 years he has been in office, saying that it can’t come close to what he did while occupying the same office.

“Maendeleo niliofanya hapa yeye amefanya; ameungana na mlevi mwingine. Kila saa ni kuongea kwa Oparanya. Nasema wakome.’

Oparanya continued to state that despite him ditching Kakamega politics and focusing on his current national role, the governor, together with his deputy, Ayub Savula, has constantly dragged him into the local politics, and in response to this, he has now decided to make a comeback to county politics since he has nothing to lose and will make sure they aren’t reelected in 2027.

“Watajua hawajui sasa nimerudi hapa uwanjani. Si niliwaambia waniwache; mimi niko Nairobi, lakini wamekataa bado wananivuruta. Sasa nimerudi, tuone nani atapata hasara kwa sababu mimi sitaki kiti hapa.”

This back and forth comes days after Oparanya endorsed the county Woman Representative, Elsie Muhanda, to succeed the incumbent in 2027, expressing confidence that she was the best suited to succeed Barasa.

Oparanya’s 2022 endorsement

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.