Co-operatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya/ FILE
Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has ruled out leaving the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to form or join a political party for the Western Kenya region, saying he remains loyal to party leader Raila Odinga.
Speaking on Sunday during a joint ODM-UDA rally in Malava Constituency, Kakamega county, Oparanya said he had rejected calls from some leaders who wanted Western Kenya politicians to break away from ODM over claims that the party had become dominated by Luo leaders.
The Cabinet Secretary said he could not abandon Raila, whom he credited for his political journey.
"Since I joined politics, everything I have achieved in government has come through Raila Odinga. I cannot betray the late Raila Odinga," Oparanya said.
He claimed that several people had approached him proposing the formation of a Western Kenya political party after claiming that ODM no longer represented the interests of the region.
According to Oparanya, he rejected the proposal, reminding them that leaders from Western Kenya were among those who helped establish ODM in 2005.
"When people came to me saying Luhyas should separate because ODM had become a Luo party, I told them to wait. We started ODM together in 2005 and, out of respect for the late Raila Odinga, I cannot leave the party," he said.
Oparanya added that the decision was reached after consultations with other leaders, who agreed to remain in ODM.
"We agreed that we should remain in ODM together, and I want to bring all the people of Western Kenya together. That is why all the MPs elected through ODM are here," he said.
The remarks come amid continued political realignments within the broad-based government arrangement between President William Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and ODM, with leaders from both parties stepping up joint political engagements ahead of the 2027 General Election.
On Sunday, Oparanya was joined at the Malava rally by ODM Secretary General Catherine Omanyo, Director of Elections and Campaigns Junet Mohamed and other local leaders, who urged residents to support the broad-based government.
Also speaking at the rally, Junet suggested that ODM could negotiate for the deputy president's position if it enters a political arrangement with President Ruto for the 2027 elections.
Junet said ODM was working towards forming a government with Ruto after the next General Election and suggested that if UDA retained the presidency, ODM would seek the deputy president's position.
Junet endorsed Oparanya as a suitable candidate, citing his long service in the party and close working relationship with Raila.
"The one who has stood firmly with Baba for many years, who has served as a Cabinet Secretary and our Deputy Party Leader, is Wycliffe Oparanya," Junet said.
Oparanya is one of ODM's longest-serving leaders, having previously served as the party's deputy leader before joining President Ruto's Cabinet following the broad-based political agreement reached between ODM and Kenya Kwanza in 2024.
