By Anderson Ojwang’
A master of double speak. The Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Wycliff Oparanya, is increasingly blowing both hot and cold, giving mixed signals and leaving the public wondering and asking: what is he up to?
Oparanya has been sending mixed signals within and without the government and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, which has not only baffled but left tongues wagging over what he could probably be up to, and whether he is preparing for a presidential stab in the 2027 general elections.
Recently, Oparanya shocked the public with his revelation that selling President William Ruto’s second term was becoming difficult after ODM sacked its Secretary General Edwin Sifuna.
President Ruto expects Oparanya to lead his campaign in Western Kenya and other parts of the country, and such a statement undermines the campaigns and the re-election game plan.
“Kazi yetu ya kutafutia rais kura imekuwa ngumu. Ukienda mahali unaulizwa mbona Sifuna alifukuzwa (Our work to seek votes for the president is becoming very difficult. They are asking why did you chase away our son). Ukienda kwa bunge wanafukuza wengine (In parliament now they want to chase away others). Na hii ni kipindi cha lala salama (This is the dying minute). Hiyo itasaidia sisi? (How will that help?)” he said.
Mudavadi reacts
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, without naming names, asked those in the government to protect President William Ruto and to stop creating doubt in the electorate.
“If you are in government, protect that government in your remarks, actions and in your speech. You cannot be flying the flag after the president appointed you and when you go to a place you don’t even seem to know where you are going,” he said.
Mudavadi said it was wrong for a leader in President Ruto’s government to show doubt and confusion to the electorate.
Mudavadi said it was wrong for one to cause confusion over President Ruto’s re-election plan and strategy.
“Let us be firm and clear. A leader does not show doubt. A leader doesn’t show confusion. A leader speaks and shows direction. As political leaders, let us not shy away from standing to defend President William Ruto and his government. We speak because we are part of it,” he said.
The Prime Cabinet Secretary said it was incumbent upon them to defend President Ruto and the government.
“If we don’t defend it, the opposition will not defend it for you. It is up to us to defend it and to show what the government is doing and the plan it has,” he said.
Hot and cold
Oparanya has been advocating for Luhya unity and even threatened to resign from the ODM party to front a common community political objective.
“Tunataka sisi wote tuwe pamoja wakati huu (We all want to be united at this moment). Kama mtu amekukosea, sema sorry (If someone has wronged you, ask for forgiveness). Ikifika 2027, tukaye chini tushiriane na tulize (In 2027, we can sit down and negotiate),” he said.
Oparanya has called on the Luhya political class to have one political vehicle to drive their agenda.
“Jirongo tried to unite the Luhya community. Whenever I met him, he would talk to me about Luhya unity. One day I asked him if I was the problem and impediment to the unity. Because I am in ODM, if I am the obstacle, I am ready to leave the party as the deputy party leader at that time to unite the community and form a single political party. We have three Luhyas who are party leaders of political parties: Eugene Wamalwa, Moses Wetang’ula, and Musalia, but he dissolved his party. These are the party leaders. Let me say this: I am ready to leave ODM to unite the Luhya community. I know if we come together, we are the sleeping giant in this country,” he said.
Luo to repay the support
Oparanya declared that the Luhya community was also looking for power and it was time the Luo community supported them.
“We have supported the late Raila Odinga with one heart. That support should not be taken for granted. Now it is our time. For all these years, Raila contested for the presidency, and we have been with him. Now they must look into it: what do those people from Western in ODM get? If they are not looking at the interests of Western, we tell them bye. We will have a meeting. Raila left us, and they have forgotten that we were close to Raila. We were leaders in that party. They are busy with their programs of power, and they do not know that even we from Western want power,” he said.
Could Oparanya be preparing his exit strategy and finally have a stab at the presidency in the 2027 general elections, or is he repositioning himself for the altar of power negotiation?
And will President Ruto hold on to Oparanya despite his scaring and confusing statements to the public? Time will tell, whichever way.
