By Anderson Ojwang
Sleeves have been rolled up and gloves off. It is a bare-knuckle for Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and his successor, Governor Fernandes Barasa.
Premium tears await in this high-voltage contest that pits close allies of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga.
Oparanya on Friday returned to Lurambi Constituency in Kakamega County, where he declared his readiness for a battle with his successor.
The CS spoke of his preparedness for a duel with his successor, whom he accused of scheming to fix him through the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) over alleged corruption.
Oparanya also told Barasa that he was lightweight and that he must be prepared for the political consequences, adding that he should not rely on Raila’s support to win a second term.
“He thinks he is such a powerful and very important person. He talks about Oparanya all the time, but I don’t even think about him. Tell him that he is a small person before me. He is a junior fellow in front of me.
Let him call a rally in Bukhungu Stadium so that we can compare who has the masses and respect.
I have said, leave me out of Kakamega issues. He is the person who carries files to EACC. I worked here, and the development projects I left behind speak for themselves. Where are his development projects?
You know, the person who took files to EACC—even if Oparanya was a thief—can you not see the development I undertook during my tenure?
Let them report, I don’t fear anything. I supported you to be the Kakamega governor, and now you have turned against me.
You now call me names, but just know I am back. We will face off. You will know who Oparanya is. I have been in Kakamega politics for 25 years. A two-year politician cannot scare me.
I am back here on the ground. I told them to leave me alone when I was in Nairobi, but they refused. They kept on following me. I am back in Kakamega for a face-off.
We will see who will lose. I have nothing to lose in this fight. I don’t want any elective seat here—it is them who are interested in the seat.
Barasa thinks Raila will come to Kakamega to help him secure votes, but he doesn’t know Raila. I know Raila better than him.
We don’t want to lie to one another over cheap unity while we strategize against each other behind the scenes,” he said.
Oparanya and Barasa’s feud boiled over during the ODM Kakamega County branch election, where the latter accused the former of supporting his rival MP Nabii Nabwera.
Oparanya recently attended Nabii’s victory party, where they claimed he was the county party chairman—a statement that was dismissed by Barasa.
Oparanya wrote on his X handle:
“This afternoon, I was honored to grace the homecoming ceremony of the newly elected ODM Chairperson–Kakamega County, Hon. Nabii Nabwera.
The event, held at St. Immaculate Heart Secondary School Grounds, Lugari Constituency, was also attended by MPs, MCAs, thousands of ODM supporters, among others.”
Barasa said:
“Our party leader is Raila Amollo Odinga. Raila recognizes me as the party chairman. I want to say this with all due respect: those MPs who are being misused by the CS, who is not happy with the appointment he was given.
Bwana CS, you were honored by the broad-based government to unite the people of Kakamega and the entire Western, but because you are not happy with the appointment, you send MPs to tell President Ruto that you wanted to be Cabinet Secretary for Finance.
Now the CS is using MPs to undermine and create chaos in the ODM party. I want to tell President Ruto to call his CS Oparanya to order.
This is because in Kakamega, we control the politics of the area. You cannot fly to Kakamega and attend a homecoming of someone who was never elected the party county chairman.
I want to tell Oparanya to avoid embarrassing himself. We know you are using MPs to achieve your personal interests. I want to tell Raila and Ruto to call the CS to order. He can’t be coming to Kakamega every day to create chaos.”
Earlier, Barasa had also written on his X handle:
“Honored by the trust of ODM Kakamega delegates who have elected me as ODM Kakamega County Chairperson. Together, we now roll up our sleeves to strengthen our party ahead of 2027. Chama iko imara.”
The grappling in the party leadership has been worsened by a recent statement on Friday, September 12, 2025, where ODM advised its supporters to ignore reports that it had called for repeat elections.
“The National Elections Coordinating Committee (NECC) of the ODM party has not called for any repeat election of the party in Kakamega at the County Coordinating Committee level. Any information to the contrary is false and should be ignored,” the party stated.
The party is yet to issue an official statement on the bona fide holder of the position.
Nabii also wrote on his Facebook page:
“Lugari MP Hon. Nabii Nabwera had the great honor of hosting leaders, ardent ODM supporters, and residents of Kakamega County/Lugari Constituency at St. Immaculate Heart Secondary School Grounds, Lugari, for his homecoming as Lugari MP and newly elected ODM Kakamega County Chair.
The event was graced by his brother and mentor, CS for Cooperatives and MSMEs Development, Dr. FCPA Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya, EGH, and brought together leaders from across Kakamega, including Hon. Elsie Muhanda, Hon. Aseka Miradi of Khwisero, Hon. Benard Shinali of Ikolomani, Hon. Emmanuel Wangwe of Navakholo, and Hon. Bishop Titus Khamala of Lurambi Constituency. Their presence was a true demonstration of unity and strength within the ODM Party.”
