The Kakamega County governor who doubles up as Council of Governors Chairman has shown his interest in 2022’s topmost political seat. But who will be the obvious casualties his political moves? The obvious people to fall casualties of Oparanya’s moves are his ODM party boss Raila Odinga, ANC leader and regional kingpin Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula.
Raila has successfully controlled the region’s vote basket, essentially making it his stronghold in three consecutive polls. For 15 years, he has enjoyed the loyalty of Oparanya and other Western leaders.
Oparanya, a former Planning minister, and his Mombasa counterpart Hassan Joho are among the few leaders who have stuck with Raila since his botched 2007 presidential bid. They were rewarded with deputy party leadership positions, making them Raila’s de-facto seconds in command. Both now have their eyes trained on the top job.
Musalia, who is vouching for the elusive Luhya unity, is likely to be dealt a blow even as he courts the Mount Kenya region in his bid to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Musalia and Wetang’ula had initially agreed to collapse their parties and form a formidable, single political vehicle to fly the Mulembe nation’s flag. Their unity bid has fizzled, however, given the competing political interests and Ruto’s interest in the region.
A 2016 opinion poll commissioned by Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli placed Oparanya as the second-most popular Luhya leader after Musalia Mudavadi.
Yesterday, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna welcomed Oparanya’s interest in the presidential ticket, saying the party espouses internal democracy.
“We’re a democratic party. Anybody who wants to run for president is free to seek the party ticket when the right time comes. ODM has a robust mechanism to pick its presidential candidate,” he said.
Sifuna sought to allay fears that its top brass could block Oparanya’s bid for the ticket. He maintained that the party had a history of holding primaries in the presidential ticket race.