By Valentine Omondi
Cabinet Secretary Wycliff Oparanya finds himself in a slippery and tricky situation over his quest to become President William Ruto’s running mate.
ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed could have declared Oparanya as the party’s preferred candidate for the Deputy President in the ODM and UDA pre-election coalition alliance, but the community is not budging or buying the idea.
The Luhya community is first rallying behind the immediate former ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, who has declared presidential intent.
On Saturday in Busia, DCP Deputy Party Leader Cleophas Malala upped the stakes even higher after he declared that his party leader Rigathi Gachagua was ready to support Sifuna’s presidential bid.
“I want to say here that my party leader Rigathi Gachagua told me to tell Sifuna that he was ready to support his presidential bid.”
And Sifuna, speaking in Busia, asked Oparanya to support his presidential bid and not to become a hindrance to the community’s journey to the presidency.
“Oparanya, you have been my political mentor in ODM. I do not know if currently we agree on the political path, but I want to request you bless me as I seek the presidency. I know you, and if I have your support, there is no way President William Ruto can defeat us. Oparanya, I am ready for the presidency, and do not dim my dream and aspiration,” he said.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya rejected Oparanya’s pursuit of the Deputy President, saying it has failed to serve the interests of the community.
“We had Musalia Mudavadi, Moody Awori, and the late Wamalwa Kijana as Vice President. We want the presidency and not the Deputy President. It is time for the Luhya community to produce the president,” he said.
Six Members of Parliament from Western Kenya have officially endorsed Co-operatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya for the Deputy President position in the 2027 General Election, vowing to rally the region behind his candidacy.
Speaking in Khwisero Sub-County during the disbursement of Uwezo Funds, the lawmakers termed Oparanya a proven leader, citing his strong development record as former Kakamega Governor and his current role in government.
The leaders made the “Khwisero Declaration”, a symbolic endorsement of Oparanya’s bid, stating that the region must be strategically positioned in the next government through his leadership.
Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka called on Oparanya to officially declare his candidacy, assuring him of unwavering support.
“You have the experience, the vision, and the people’s trust. We are ready to support you on the ballot,” said Aseka.
But Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi, while participating in the Linda Mwananchi tour in Busia County, warned former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya against being misled by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, another indication of the competing interests and disagreements playing out within opposition circles.
Malala’s game plan
Malala endorsed Sifuna for president, despite being a close ally of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who is also seeking to lead the opposition into the election.
Malala’s endorsement, made on Saturday, August 8, 2026, during political engagements linked to the Linda Mwananchi movement, places him in an increasingly complicated position within the opposition coalition-building efforts.
The former Kakamega Senator has previously backed Sifuna, but his latest position goes further by supporting the Nairobi Senator for the presidency rather than simply advocating for him as a running mate.
The development is significant because Malala is a senior figure in Gachagua’s DCP, while Gachagua has openly positioned himself as the politician best placed to lead a united opposition against President William Ruto in 2027. Gachagua said recently that he was best suited to be the opposition’s presidential flag bearer.
Malala, however, has now thrown his weight behind Sifuna.
“I will be supporting Edwin Sifuna,” Malala said, according to reports on his latest position.
On Friday, August 7, Malala had also spoken of bringing Gachagua and Sifuna together, arguing that an alliance between the two could produce a formidable opposition ticket.
“On behalf of the people of the Western Region, I will sit down with my brother Edwin Sifuna so that he can forge ties with Gachagua so that we can remove Ruto from office. When these two unite, we will surely win the election,” Malala said.
The rapid movement in positions highlights one of the central challenges facing Kenya’s opposition: how to build a single presidential ticket when several leaders and their allies are already positioning themselves for influential positions.
Gachagua’s camp has continued to insist that the former Deputy President is the strongest candidate to face Ruto, with allies warning other opposition leaders against undermining his presidential ambitions.
The Orange Democratic Movement has also been forced to address questions over disagreements surrounding the Deputy Presidency, with Acting Secretary General Catherine Omanyo saying the party would rely on its democratic structures to settle on a preferred candidate.
These developments suggest that while opposition leaders continue to publicly speak about the need for unity, the question of who gets what position and who ultimately leads the ticket remains unsettled.
Malala’s endorsement therefore raises a broader question: Can the opposition translate its growing number of alliances and political movements into one coherent electoral team before 2027?
For now, the competing endorsements and ambitions point to a political camp still negotiating its final shape.
The opposition may agree on one objective—defeating Ruto—but the path to deciding who will lead that effort remains far from settled.
