Wamuzi News Ke
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has today made explosive calls for President William Ruto to remove Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya from his post, accusing him of meddling in local politics and undermining county leadership.
Speaking at a church service, Barasa said Oparanya is using Members of Parliament as his mouthpiece, spreading discontent about his cabinet portfolio and seeking elevation to a more powerful ministry. “This CS thinks every day he can come here disturb us. We are tired now,” the governor declared, insisting the president must either rein him in or sack him.
The governor’s attack centers on claims that Oparanya, in his role as CS, is neglecting national duties and instead engaging in partisan struggles in Kakamega—specifically the recent party primaries and leadership battles within ODM. Barasa accused him of sponsoring candidates against the governor’s allies in ODM, notably supporting the candidacy of a rival MP in the party primaries.
In response, the Cabinet Secretary defended himself, saying that while he remains loyal to party structures he is constitutionally barred from holding a party office while serving as a CS. He also challenged the reports of interference, saying some of the internal leadership elections in the county were conducted poorly and against party guidelines.
This confrontation exposes a deepening rift within ODM in Western Kenya—a region once firmly behind the party’s leadership. Political observers warn that Barasa’s public rebuke could trigger wider fractures ahead of the 2027 elections, with local powerbrokers now openly stepping into the fray.
