Governor Barasa accuses CS Oparanya of dividing ODM in bid for Ruto's running mate slot

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya declared the Luhya community spokesperson. [File, Standard]

Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has dismissed calls to defect to the Linda Mwananchi Movement, reaffirming his loyalty to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) while accusing Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary(CS) Wycliffe Oparanya of fuelling divisions within the party as he aims to be named as President William Ruto’s running mate in the 2027 polls.

Speaking during the launch of a Sh50 million facelift of Malava Level Four Hospital in Malava Constituency, Barasa said he would remain in ODM despite growing pressure from some residents urging him to join the Linda Mwananchi Movement led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.

The governor, who also serves as ODM chairman in Kakamega County, declared that he would not betray the legacy of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.

"I recently saw residents of Malava urging me as their governor to leave ODM and join Linda Mwananchi. I want to tell the people of Malava and Kakamega that I will never betray Raila Odinga. When he was alive, he left us in the broad-based arrangement, and I remain the ODM chairman in Kakamega," Barasa said.

Without mentioning Oparanya by name at first, Barasa accused some senior party leaders of abandoning ODM during Raila's lifetime before returning to portray themselves as the party's staunchest defenders.

"There are people who betrayed Raila when he was alive by decamping to Ford Kenya. They even boycotted the last meeting he held in Kakamega. Today they are moving around claiming to be the real ODM members. I want to tell them that I will be the last person to betray Raila. I am in ODM to stay," he said.

The governor also poured cold water on Oparanya's perceived bid to become President William Ruto's running mate in the 2027 General Election, saying the former Kakamega governor should first concentrate on uniting ODM members in the county.

"Our first governor is looking for something at the top of the country's leadership but charity begins at home. He should first unite the people of Kakamega instead of walking around with factions of ODM members and dividing both the party and the people," Barasa said.

His remarks come against the backdrop of widening cracks within ODM and the broad-based political alliance following a chaotic grassroots mobilisation meeting in Malava Constituency on Sunday.

The meeting, held at Malava Primary School and attended by Oparanya, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, ODM Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo and several Western Kenya MPs, descended into confusion after disgruntled grassroots officials accused organisers of failing to honour an alleged promise to pay each attendee Sh2,000 as facilitation.

Some attendees claimed they received Sh1,000, others Sh500, while many said they received nothing.

The disappointed supporters responded by burning ODM T-shirts and caps, singing funeral songs to symbolise what they termed the "death" of the party and chanting Senator Edwin Sifuna's name while threatening to join the fast-growing Linda Mwananchi Movement.

"We know these leaders are being given money by the President to campaign for him, but they are pocketing the money. I was invited after being promised Sh2,000. If President Ruto continues relying on political brokers like Oparanya and Junet, then he is headed for disappointment. Western Kenya cannot continue being treated with such disrespect," claimed grassroots official John Andamwa.

Another attendee said confusion erupted after organisers instructed participants to wait for facilitation before senior leaders quietly left the venue.

"After the meeting we were told to wait for facilitation, but leaders started leaving one after another until we realised no one was remaining to address us. We were forced to look for our own transport back home," he said.

Some officials further alleged that Members of Parliament had ferried supporters to the meeting using hired buses, contrasting the mobilisation with the spontaneous crowds witnessed during Linda Mwananchi rallies in neighbouring Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties.

Governor Barasa, notably absent from the meeting despite being the county ODM chairman, was instead accompanying President Ruto at a church function in Busia County.

His absence fuelled criticism from some party members who accused Oparanya of sidelining the county leadership while using ODM structures to advance personal political ambitions.

Lazarus Anaswa alleged that Oparanya had been convening parallel party meetings without involving recognised county officials.

"We have seen Oparanya hold so-called ODM delegates' meetings that are not attended by genuine party delegates. Even the Governor, who is the county chairman, has not been involved. These meetings appear intended to advance individual political interests rather than strengthen the party," Anaswa claimed.

He further alleged that Oparanya was positioning himself as President Ruto's preferred running mate while seeking greater influence within ODM.

"Oparanya is blackmailing the President by mobilising a section of MPs to demand the deputy president's position. We also want ODM leader Oburu Odinga to remain vigilant because some leaders are pushing for Oparanya to take over the party leadership," he claimed.

Some residents also urged Barasa to reconsider his political future if what they described as continued disrespect within ODM persists.

"Governor Barasa has played a major role in strengthening ODM in Kakamega. If this disrespect continues, he should consider joining the Linda Mwananchi Movement so that the people can decide their own political direction," Anaswa added.

Despite the fallout, leaders allied to Oparanya used the Malava meeting to renew calls for the Cabinet Secretary to be considered President Ruto's running mate in the 2027 General Election, underscoring the deepening political contest for influence in Western Kenya as the Linda Mwananchi Movement gains momentum across the region.