MCAs Press Oparanya to Drop Ambition for D.P Role
A short time after senior figures backing President William Ruto’s bid for a second term urged Cooperatives Minister Wycliffe Oparanya and the Orange Democratic Movement to abandon any pursuit of the deputy president slot in the next general election, several ward representatives in Kakamega County have intensified the call.
The Members of the County Assembly, led by majority leader Philip Maina, publicly demanded that the minister set aside those national ambitions and allow Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa to carry out his constitutional responsibilities without interference. Their remarks came during a public gathering in Shianda where the foundation stone was laid for upgrading the local dispensary into a Level 4 hospital.
Addressing residents at the site, the MCAs accused Oparanya of persistently undermining the governor’s efforts to deliver services. They insisted that the minister and those aligned with him must immediately stop such actions and give the elected county leadership the space needed to focus on the needs of the people. The assembly members framed their appeal as a defence of local governance, arguing that continued friction only harms ordinary residents who expect steady progress on development projects and public services.
Governor Barasa himself reinforced the message, calling on the minister to refrain from meddling in the county’s leadership affairs. He pointed out that Oparanya left behind substantial debts during his earlier tenure, obligations that the current administration is still working to settle. The governor’s comments added weight to the MCAs’ position and underscored the practical challenges facing Kakamega as it seeks to move forward under its present leadership.
The latest statements reflect ongoing tensions between national political calculations and the day-to-day demands of county governance. Supporters of the county leadership maintain that elected officials at the local level should be free to fulfil their mandates without distraction from higher-level ambitions. By speaking out at a development event, the MCAs sought to link their political appeal directly to tangible community needs such as improved healthcare facilities.
As the political season advances, the pressure on Oparanya to clarify his intentions continues to build from both national allies of the president and local representatives in Kakamega. The combined voices of the MCAs and the governor signal a clear preference for stability and uninterrupted service delivery within the county. Whether the minister responds by stepping back from the deputy president conversation remains to be seen, yet the call for non-interference has now been stated in unambiguous terms.
