Jubilee has no room for you in its succession plan, Oparanya tells Luhyas

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya on Saturday implored western Kenya residents to remain with Cord leader Raila Odinga, saying the Jubilee government had no room for a Luyha candidate in its succession plan.

Mr Oparanya pointed out that President Uhuru Kenyatta has already indicated that he will pass the baton to his deputy William Ruto after his second term.

According to the governor, an Odinga presidency was likely to benefit the Luyhya people.

The Orange Democratic Party deputy leader was speaking in Matete sub-County said if Luhyas support Jubilee Party, the earliest they community could hope to clinch the presidency will be in 2032.

Mr Oparanya was on an inspection tour of projects funded by the country government.

“I have told Mr Odinga I will not waver in my support for him as I prepare myself to join the presidential contest in 2022,” said Mr Oparanya.

The Jubilee coalition has been waging a serious campaign to remove the western Kenya region from Mr Odinga’s control.

He said as the ODM deputy party leader, he was best placed to take over the party’s mantle from Mr Odinga when he retires from politics.

Mr Oparanya said Luhyas would have an easy time in their quest to ascend to the presidency if they supported Mr Odinga and the ODM party.

“Our support for Mr Odinga will open up an easy opportunity for me and other candidates from western to clinch the presidency,” said Mr Oparanya while

“If President Uhuru Kenyatta wins the elections next year, he will serve his second term and pave way for his deputy in 2022. It’s quite clear that the Luhya have no chance in the Jubilee political arrangement,” Mr Oparanya.

The county chief said Jubilee politicians had approached him to persuade him to quit ODM but he had declined.

He said he not want to become a cheerleader of those in power.

“In ODM, I have told Mr Odinga that he has one bullet left and he has to fire it carefully and hit the target (Presidency) because if he misses, then in 2022 I will offer myself on an ODM ticket,” said Mr Oparanya.

He dismissed the forays being made in western by Jubilee politicians as a ploy to hoodwink voters in next year’s elections.

“The Jubilee politicians are busy traversing western region in choppers to attend funds drive and making unfulfilled promises to residents. I’m asking Luhyas not to be swayed by the promises and back Jubilee blindly,” said Mr Oparanya.

He asked Kakamega residents to re-elect him in the next election.

“I have done my best in my first term as your governor and if you re-elect me you will not regret it,” said Mr Oparanya.

He called for peaceful campaigns and asked the youth to avoid being lured with handouts to disrupt campaigns by their opponents.

Supporters of Mr Oparanya led by a Kakamega businessman Abdalla Ismail Wanyama said Mr Odinga should reciprocate the support he has enjoyed from the Luhya community by backing a candidate from the region when he retires from politics.

They said Mr Odinga should work closely with Governor Oparanya, the Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi and Ford Kenya’s Moses Wetang’ula.

“If Mr Odinga settles on any the candidates from western as the Opposition flagbearer, there will be a big shift in the politics of the country as we head to the 2017 elections,” said Mr Wanyama. 

(Editing by Joel Muinde)