By Bonface Mulyungi

Co-operatives and MSMEs Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has raised alarm over inadequate funding in his ministry, expressing frustration that he’s being reduced to a “beggar” in President William Ruto’s administration. 

CS Oparanya, alongside Principal Secretaries Susan Mang’eni (MSMEs) and Patrick Kilemi (Cooperatives), on Thursday appeared before the Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives to discuss the annual estimates of revenue and expenditure for the Financial Year 2026/27.

During the session, an irate Oparanya did not hold back as he questioned why his office was sidelined on budgetary allocations, hence forcing him to plead for funds from Parliament. 

He revealed that his ministry requires Ksh.200 million for operational expenses, adding that he has at times been forced to ask for money from officials in the ministry, including the two Principal Secretaries serving under him.

“I have to come here all the time to get money for my office’s operations. I don’t know if my office is recognised as one of the offices of CS in this government or not,” Oparanya stated. 

“I will plead with you that at least I should get allocation appropriately pointed out by the PS Cooperatives, that at least I need Ksh.200 million to enable my office to operate.”

He added: “I have to depend on these PSs. When I go out, I’m stuck out there, there’s no fuel, and I have to call any of them because they’re accounting officers, they always sign for themselves. So I don’t want to continue being a beggar from my juniors… I hope you’ve heard that.”

On Cooperatives, CS Oparanya also highlighted the importance of the cooperative model in supporting small-scale farmers by linking them to stronger markets for their produce. 

On MSMEs, he called for increased funding and support for programmes such as the Uwezo Fund, NYOTA, Kenya Industrial Estates, Constituency Industrial Development Centres and the East African Community MSME Trade Fair to spur business growth and expand market access.

Oparanya, one of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) members who joined President Ruto’s government under the broad-based arrangement, has in recent times been critical of the political direction ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The CS had recently expressed concerns that efforts to popularise President Ruto in the Western region would be a tall order due to the internal divisions in ODM. 

“Wanafanya kazi yetu ya kutafutia Rais kuwa ngumu. Ukienda mahali unaulizwa mbona huyu anafukuzwa. Na hii ni kipindi cha lala salama. Tunataka sisi wote tuwe pamoja,” Oparanya stated during an engagement in Busia County on May 10, 2026.