Oparanya Warns ODM Against Divisive Politics Amid Kakamega Leadership Row

Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, a veteran of Kakamega politics, has sounded the alarm on growing internal divisions within ODM in his former stronghold. Speaking at a welcome event for Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, Oparanya cautioned that factional conflicts threaten to weaken the party ahead of the 2027 general election.
Oparanya reaffirmed his loyalty to ODM, acknowledging that although he stepped aside from formal leadership upon joining the Cabinet, he remains deeply invested in the party’s fortunes. He criticized the recent county chairmanship election in Kakamega—won by Governor Fernandes Barasa—as unorthodox and divisive.He argued that ODM’s traditions have always favored consensus over contested primaries, highlighting the risk that last week’s events could erode unity in a critical vote-rich region.
The warning comes amid a broader power struggle between Oparanya and Governor Barasa. Barasa’s allies have accused Oparanya of micromanaging county politics and backing Nabwera’s challenge, while Oparanya insists his actions reflect a genuine desire to preserve ODM’s internal democracy. As both camps dig in ahead of the next election, their clash could reshape ODM’s structure in Kakamega—and by extension, its influence in Western Kenya.
Looking forward, the ODM crisis in Kakamega could either be resolved through reconciliation or deepen into a full-blown rupture. Oparanya is urging party elders and national leadership to intervene before the discord causes lasting damage. If no compromise is reached, factionalism may not only undermine Kakamega’s ODM chapter but also jeopardize the party’s performance in 2027.