OPARANYA COULD DROP KUTIMA FOR KETRACO CHIEF BARAZA BY JUNE.

Story by Joel Eshikumo and Douglas Dindi

Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya is reportedly planning to abandon his deputy Prof. Philip Kutima as the quest to succeed him gains momentum both at the political party and government levels.

Oparanya reportedly told confidants during a private session with county contractors who supported the ODM campaigns in the Matungu by-election last month that Prof Kutima was a weak candidate who cannot guarantee a win for the 2022 Kakamega gubernatorial contest.

The meeting held in the lakeside city of Kisumu to preview the ODM performance in the county after the by-election debacle discussed the alleged “insignificant’ role played by Prof. Kutima in the by-election campaigns and the budding threat of ANC Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala.

Asked by his audience for an opinion on the potency of ODM candidates seeking the county seats in the next election, the governor Oparanya reportedly vouched for his Youth, Sports, culture and social services chief officer John Imbogo as a deputy governor.

The area only two candidates who have expressed interest  in the ODM ticket to run for the coveted governor’s seat; Prof. Kutima who is also the county ODM chairman and Kenya Electricity transmission Company (Ketraco) CEO Fernandes Barasa, who registered as party life member last year.

The Kisumu meeting was chaired by Western Cross Company director Cleophas Shimanyula. Its agenda was also to explore ways to tame Malala with the governor suggesting the name of his former chief of staff and Lugari ODM chairman Nabi Nabwera to run against Malala seat at the general election.

The entry of Nabi, a serial election loser, in the senate race is seen as a plot to try to denigrate the northern voting bloc, which comprises Malava, Lugari and Likuyani constituencies with at least 240,000 votes. It is also important to note that both Imbogo and Prof. Kutima are from the populous Malava constituency and it goes without mention to conceive a ticket where both the governor and his running are descended from the same sub-county.

Reached for comment on the meeting, Shimanyula confirmed chairing a session of county contractors in Kisumu saying the explored ways to shore up the dwindling ODM support in the county. “But we agreed to allow things to shape up in the meantime until June probably before a decision is taken.” He added.

Pressed further about introduction of Nabi in the senate race and plan to drop t Prof. (Kutima) in the ODM nomination race for governor candidate,  Shimanyula volunteered that it was the party’s feeling that Kutima potents a weak candidate.  ODM he claimed is committed to retain Elsie Muhanda as candidate for the county MP.

Save for Malala who was elected on ANC ticket, the ODM held sway in the county during the last general election winning both the governor and County MP seats.  The party also nominated senator Musurube (disabled) and Senator Naomi Shiyonga both from Kakamega County.

ODM fared badly in the parliamentary elections managing only two out of the county twelve seats on offer.  Yesterday, Malala who was stripped off his position as senate minority whip by ODM laughed off the plot saying the contractors have independent thought.

He said a journey to exorcise the ODM ghost from the county had just began with the triumph in Matungu, adding the governor should not think of recouping any ground with political deadwood and greenhorns. “I know they are plotting against me for my role in Matungu by-election but they should remember that they never assisted me to become what I’m today.”

He went on, “Oparanya is plotting to succeed himself by retaining the governor’s seat in the Butere/Mumias conclave. That’s why he prefers Barasa who is from Matungu sub-county but he should if with all the resources at his disposal, he failed to spin victory in a small corner of the county, the county is big.”

He said the parliamentary leadership in the Northern and Central part of Kakamega county is alert  consulting and reaching out to all including Prof Kutima as a potential governor candidate.

He said MPs in seven constituencies making up the Northern and Central Kakamega are prepared to pursue a bipartisan approach to discuss county governance. “Prof. Kutima is better off in ANC and I urge him to jump over and fight for this ticket through our party.” Malala said.

Governor Oparanya is reportedly warming up towards KETRACO CEO Fernandes Baraza who is regarded as a stronger candidate if he contested on an ODM ticket as Kakamega Governor in 2022.

Oparanya who is still recovering after the Matungu loss, will do anything to field what he regards as a strong candidate to avoid the current shame where despite spending millions, David Were the ODM candidate lost to ANC's Peter Nabulindo. 

Ends