KAKAMEGA Governor Wycliffe Oparanya is ready to support a Luhya presidential candidate in the 2017 general election.
He says he will back any candidate from the community as long as the aspirant demonstrates that he is capable of mounting a serious presidential bid.
Oparanya said he wants a strong candidate for the presidency.
“So far no candidate from the community has come out to declare he will run for the presidency. When he comes and proves that he is capable we shall talk,” he said.
The governor addressed residents in Malava on Wednesday, after he had inspected development projects in the area.
Oparanya said some politicians have come up with new parties to negotiate with Jubilee and Cord coalitions.
Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi has registered Amani National Congress, while former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo has registered the United Democratic Party (UDP).
Oparanya said “political brokers” have used the Luhya for long and should not be allowed to repeat in 2017.
“It is not possible to sell a new party now and win the presidency in 2017. I know I will be fought politically but I will continue telling the truth,” the governor said.
Oparanya has recently been under attack by elected leaders from Western Kenya for saying that the 2017 general election will be a two-horse race between Jubilee and Cord.
He said the unity of Luhya leaders is critical to the region’s political future.
The governor said he learned bitter lessons on the behaviour of Luhya leaders when he contested the Council of Governors’ chairmanship, which he lost to Peter Munya (Meru).
Kakamega Deputy Governor Philip Kutima and Malava MP Moses Malulu were at the rally.
