Savula warns Oparanya to emulate Joho and focus on national role
By Mabonga Makhanu, September 21, 2025Kakamega County Deputy Governor Ayub Savula has warned Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya over what he calls his continued obsession with local politics despite holding a national office.
While speaking during an event in Lugari constituency on Saturday, September 20, 2025, he urged Oparanya to concentrate more on his national role than on fights with the Kakamega governor.
According to Savula, despite Oparanya holding a CS position, he is busy transferring the county from one constituency to another, as he fights his successor.
“Mimi naomba mheshimiwa Oparanya at 75 years, enda cheza mpira kule juu. Harambee Stars, wacha kurudi hapa; mnagombana na governor. Governor apewe nafasi yake afanye kazi. Huwezi toka huko Harambee Stars ukuje ukorogane hapa. Leo uko Likuyani, kesho uko Butere. Wewe cheza ligi kuu,” Savula stated.
He drew parallels with Mining Cabinet Secretary Hassan Joho, who both assumed cabinet positions at the same time, stating that Joho has managed to deliver meaningful projects which have seen youths from his backyard employed, but in Oparanya’s case, he is busy traversing the county endorsing Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda to take over from Barasa in 2027.
“Kule coast Joho akisimama amelete Kwale factory ya steel, vijana wanaandikwa kazi; kule coast Joho akisimama amelete Taita Taveta factory ya mining. Ni ukweli nasema, saa hii Oparanya akitembea hapa kazi yake ni kutembeza Elsie kwa Matanga; that will not help the people of this county,” Savula stated.
Oparanya-Barasa feud
This comes at a time when Oparanya and Governor Barasa are at loggerheads, with the CS vowing to use all his efforts to make sure that he is not elected for his second term.
While speaking during an event on Saturday, September 20, he accused the governor of betrayal, stating that he is the reason behind his current woes with the EACC.
He accused the governor of forwarding his files to the anti-corruption commission with the aim of implicating him.
“Hii mambo ya kijana wetu. Mnajua ya kwamba yule alibeba files kupeleka EACC, si mnajua. Na hata kama Oparanya alikuwa mwizi, muangalie ile vitu tulifanya hapa, hiyo miaka yote. Ni kama wana ushaidi, Oparanya nimeiba waende mbele, I don’t fear anybody,” he told residents.