Former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has said his support for Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga in future elections is now over.
This is the first time Oparanya is speaking openly about the aftermath of the August 9 elections, and he insists that his focus now is on uniting the people of Western Kenya.
“I am offering myself from now to lead the unity drive of our people. I am done with Raila and even if he bad-mouths me, God forbid, he knows, he will not be forgiven,” Oparanya said at the function in Ichinga Village, Mumias East Sub-county during the funeral of Nominated MCA Phaustine Welimo.
Oparanya asserts that the Luhya community has supported the opposition leader for a five successive elections and it is time for the Luhya community to chart a way forward on its own.
The former county premier now accuses the Azimio leadership of betraying the trust of the Luhya community, saying their support has been taken for granted in the recent allocation of election positions — key positions in the National Assembly, the Senate and the East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA).
“I was pushing for Kiziro Justus (former MP Shinyalu) to go to EALA but MPs were grumbling that Kizito had no money. I was wondering that MPs must also be bribed to vote.
“The result of that vote is that all other big tribes but the Luhya sent an MP to EALA,” he said.
Raila and Kalonzo’s children, Winnie and Kennedy Musyoka, were among those elected to EALA.
Oparanya argues that out of the country’s eight regions, only Western missed out despite overwhelming support for Raila in the last poll.
Sam Oduor is the editor-in-chief at the Western Kenya Times who leverages the power of the Internet in telling stories that shape opinions.
