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Co-operatives and MSME Development Cabinet Secretary nominee Wycliffe Oparanya has come out to defend himself over claims of graft and the recent wrangle with the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC).

Appearing before the National Assembly Committee on Appointments on Sunday, August 4, 2024, Oparanya stated that he has never been approached by the commission to record a statement.

The former Kakamega Governor lamented over what he described as public and media prosecution, yet his side of the story has never been heard.

Genesis of his troubles

Oparanya informed the Members of Parliament (MPs) sitting in the committee that he first received a call in August 2023 from officials purporting to be from EACC.

The officials reportedly raided his house and confiscated a few items, including his children’s phones.

Before leaving, the officials asked him if he was in any business partnership with the former Prime Minister, Raila Odinga. They also asked him if he kept guns at his house and whether he was financing the Azimio nationwide protests.

“They said they were EACC officers, but I can’t remember their names. There was one who introduced himself,” Oparanya responded to a question on who raided his house.

Hon. Kimani Ichung’wa: Who were these that came to your house, EACC or ordinary police?

Wycliffe Oparanya: You wouldn't know them because they never introduced themselves, they were about 20.

Hon. Kimani Ichung’wa: They never introduce themselves as EACC officers.

Wycliffe… pic.twitter.com/cskZmZyaaw

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024

Oparanya informed the Committee on Appointments that he dismissed all the claims.

“August 2023 I was very active in the demonstrations, I was called by someone that because I was in demonstrations EACC was looking for me. I have served diligently for 10 years, I have been a minister for 5 years.

“When I was minister for planning, my ministry was voted the best, when I was Governor they said devolution in Kakamega was working, until August 2023 when we were doing demonstrations (maandamano) they came to my house and the question they asked was what business do you do with Raila Odinga, do you keep guns in the house, where do you keep money that you fund Maandamano…no one has come to me, I just see it in the papers,” Oparanya stated.

Oparanya was responding to a question raised by Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who stated that the committee had received a letter from EACC indicating that the nominee was ineligible to hold public office.

Wycliffe Oparanya: Nobody has come to me to write a statement. I have never been given a chance to say my story. I worked for 10 years yet nobody came to my office for any corruption case until August 2023 when were doing 'maandamano'#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/d0RYTvOeil

— K24 TV (@K24Tv) August 4, 2024

However, Oparanya insisted that he is open to facing the commission and clearing his name. He argued that during his 10-year tenure as Kakamega County boss, he was never mentioned in any graft cases.

Nonetheless, the nominee stated that he is ready to face the commission to clear his name over any graft accusations leveled against him.