Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa has urged President William Ruto and Orange Democratic Movement party leader Raila Odinga to restrain Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya from engaging in county and party politics.
Speaking on Sunday, September 15, Governor Barasa claimed that CS Oparanya is dissatisfied with his current docket in government.
The ODM governor alleged that Oparanya had aimed to be appointed as CS for the National Treasury.
According to the governor, the CS should focus on serving the country through his position, and if he fails to deliver as expected, the president should consider dismissing him from his position.
“You have been honored and given a position as Cabinet Secretary to unite the people of Kakamega and the entire Western region.
“But because you are not satisfied with that role, you are sending MPs to tell the President that you want to be the Treasury CS… right now, you are using MPs to destabilize the ODM party,” Barasa claimed.
The Kakamega Governor asked President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga to call CS Oparanya into order.
Barasa said CS Oparanya’s conduct has been embarrassing, adding that the CS is using MPs to pursue personal interests instead of uniting the region.
“I want to tell President William Ruto and Raila Odinga that you must call your CS to order. He has forgotten his duties and thinks his job is to come here every day to stir up issues among the people of Kakamega.
“We are tired of this man. I want to tell the President that this burden you brought us should be taken back to Nairobi,” he stated.
This comes after Governor Barasa was officially declared as the ODM County Chairman following elections conducted on September 1, 2025.
The election has, however, led to wrangles inside the ODM party with Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera disputing Barasa’s election.
Speaking on Saturday, Oparanya, who is supporting Nabwera for the position, accused the ODM party leadership of sowing division in Kakamega.
Oparanya also told Governor Barasa that being declared the ODM chairman in Kakamega will not guarantee his re-election in 2027.
“I will give him free advice, whoever is telling you that being the chairman of ODM will guarantee you the governor’s seat is lying to you, because these two positions are completely different,” said Oparanya.
