Why Western ODM MPs insist Oparanya must lead talks with UDA

CS Wycliffe Oparanya speaks after meeting with New Kenya Planters Cooperative Union (KPCU) members in Eldoret on May 18, 2025. [Peter Ochieng, Standard] A section of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) MPs from the Western region have backed the party's Central Management Committee decision to initiate talks with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), insisting that the region must be represented in the negotiations through Cooperatives and SMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya. The leaders said Western would not support any political talks that exclude Oparanya, whom they described as the region's political kingpin. The MPs spoke during a Uwezo Fund empowerment drive held at Navakholo Grounds in Kakamega County. Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera said the region had taken a firm stand on the ongoing political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election. "Here in Kakamega, we have our stand. Right now, we are seducing each other to marry so that we can move the country forward (our party, ODM, is seducing each other with UDA to see if they can form one party)," Nabwera said. He warned that Western leaders would not go to the negotiation table without Oparanya. "Oparanya is our leader and the Western kingpin. We cannot go to the discussion table without him. Our Luhya kingpin must be at the table. Kakamega must be there on our behalf," he said. He urged ODM leaders, including party leader Oburu Odinga, not to sideline the former Kakamega governor during the talks. During the same event, Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda went further to front Oparanya as a potential deputy president candidate in the 2027 General Election. Muhanda said the former two-term Kakamega governor has the capacity, experience, and development track record to serve as the country's Deputy Head of State. "Oparanya is our kingpin. The only gift we can give him is to elevate him to higher levels because he has the capacity to be the Deputy President of Kenya," she said. She added that helping Oparanya ascend to the deputy presidency would be the greatest reward for the people of Kakamega County and the wider Western region. "The only reward for our people is to help him rise higher, and that higher level is the deputy president's seat," Muhanda said. Her remarks sent the crowd into a frenzy, with Oparanya, who was seated as the chief guest, waving in agreement as chants of his name filled the grounds. The endorsement comes months after a section of Kakamega MPs had earlier publicly backed Oparanya for the same position. However, Oparanya has previously downplayed the endorsements, saying he is comfortable serving in his current role as Cabinet Secretary. Speaking during a television interview on September 22, 2025, Oparanya said he has no immediate political ambitions and urged leaders to focus on service delivery. "I am comfortable where I am now, serving as Cabinet Secretary. That might be their wish, and I can't stop their wish, but I am satisfied with where I am," he said. "Our coalition lost an election. I thank God for where I am. For now, 2027 is far, and we should concentrate on giving services to wananchi," Oparanya added. During the burial of late Cyrus Jirongo, Oparanya declared that he is ready to leave the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to unite the Western region and strengthen the political voice of the Luhya community. Oparanya said his willingness to exit ODM was driven by the desire for regional unity, not personal ambition. He added that he had previously expressed readiness to step aside from party leadership if it would bring leaders together. "I want to say this openly before you all: if I am the problem, I am ready to leave ODM. Let us come together as one. I know that if we unite, we are a sleeping giant in this country," Oparanya said. "I told him that if I am the problem, I was ready to leave ODM, even when I was the deputy party leader, so that we could come together and form one party that all our people would belong to," he said. Those in attendance included Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, Ikolomani MP Bernard Shinali, and Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana.

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