Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has revealed that he has a special room reserved for ODM leader Raila Odinga in his house.
The room, Oparanya noted serves a specific purpose and no one else sleeps there even if it’s for a whole year.
"This room is a very important room, this room is reserved for my party leader," he said.
“No other person sleeps here."
Speaking during KTN's Art of Living programme, Oparanya also used the opportunity to express his admiration and unwavering support for Raila.
This, as he explained about the significance of the room dedicated to Raila.
“When he comes, Raila Amollo Odinga, this is where he sits,” he said.
Oparanya is the current ODM deputy party leader.
In March the ODM leader endorsed his deputies Hassan Joho and Oparanya to lead the party should his African Union Commission chairmanship bid succeed.
Raila’s declaration during an ODM mobilisation event in Wajir could put an end to speculations about his possible successor in the party as he eyes the African Union Commission chairperson job.
Reports had said top guns in Raila’s inner circles were split between endorsing Oparanya or Joho as the alternative ODM party leader.
But Raila said he was confident that the two would run the affairs of ODM well in his absence while in Addis Ababa should he win the AU seat.
"They will work together. A party which has a good foundation cannot disintegrate when one person steps aside. A strong party is not about an individual but the entire membership and its leadership,” Raila told party members.
Raila’s endorsement of both Joho and Oparanya signalled his political tightrope to choose either of the two as his potential successor in a bid not to upset his strongholds.
The two are likely to square it out for the 2027 ODM presidential ticket should Raila succeed in his AU job bid.
