ODM leader Oburu Oginga on Wednesday revealed how he reconciled Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, whose relationship soured shortly after the 2022 General Election.
Mr Barasa and the Cabinet Secretary, who were close political allies in the run-up to the election, have since been embroiled in a supremacy battle in the populous county, where ODM also secured 10 parliamentary seats and the Woman Representative position.
Speaking to the Daily Nation about the stormy meeting held on Monday, Dr Oginga also disclosed that he convinced Mr Oparanya to remain in the party and thwarted attempts by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to lure ODM MPs into defecting ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Cabinet Secretary for Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development, Wycliffe Oparanya during a courtesy visit at the Nation Centre in Nairobi on April 8, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
During the meeting, Mr Oparanya was taken to task over the gubernatorial succession politics in Kakamega, where he has been at loggerheads with Governor Barasa.
The Cabinet Secretary has been perceived as leaning toward the candidacy of Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda for the county’s top seat. However, he denied backing Ms Muhanda and challenged anyone with evidence to present it.
“The issue in Kakamega is that Elsie wants the seat currently held by Barasa, and we agreed that the matter will be settled through party nominations. The Cabinet Secretary also promised not to take sides because he is an elder and the face of the party in the region. He was accused of working against the current administration led by Barasa,” said Dr Oburu.
“What we do not want is the politics of insults and abuse, which have been going on. If either of the two feels more popular (Ms Muhanda and Mr Barasa), that will be determined through the nominations,” he added.
On September 5 last year, Mr Oparanya appeared to endorse Ms Muhanda during an event in Shinyalu Constituency, claiming Governor Barasa had performed poorly.
“She has been the Woman Representative, and now she has told me she wants to be governor. I have said yes, and I wish you all the best as I stand by you,” Mr Oparanya said at the time.
Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Grouo
In the run-up to the 2022 General Election, it was Mr Oparanya who introduced Mr Barasa to frontline politics after the latter resigned as chairman of Kenya Electricity Transmission Company Limited (KETRACO) to vie for the Kakamega governorship.
At the time, even Mr Oparanya’s deputy, Philip Kutima, who had served alongside him for 10 years and was interested in succeeding him, was overlooked by him in favour of Mr Barasa.
Shortly after the election, however, cracks began to emerge between the two, with Mr Oparanya openly criticising Governor Barasa. Their fallout is said to have been fuelled by disagreements over county appointments and tender allocations.
Apart from being seen to support Ms Muhanda’s candidacy, Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale has also reportedly been courting Mr Oparanya as he eyes the governorship in 2027.
Mr Oparanya has also been backing Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera in the tussle over the ODM county chairmanship.
On January 18, Dr Oburu was forced to hold parallel meetings at Mabole in Butere and at Golf Hotel in Kakamega town following a fierce leadership dispute between Governor Barasa and Mr Nabwera over control of the county party leadership.
The Mabole meeting was attended by MPs allied to Mr Nabwera, while those loyal to Governor Barasa gathered at the Golf Hotel.
“Kakamega is our stronghold, and Oparanya and Barasa have to work together for the benefit of the party and our supporters. On the governorship, it is the electorate who will decide as we agreed during the meeting,” said Dr Oburu.
It also emerged that during the meeting, Governor Barasa presented his grievances against the Cabinet Secretary and his allies over the county party chairmanship, while declaring that he was ready to face Ms Muhanda in the party nominations.
“Attended an ODM stakeholders’ meeting hosted by our party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, bringing together elected leaders and stakeholders from Kakamega County. The engagement forms part of our broader efforts to strengthen ODM and advance a more united and focused voice for Kakamega County,” Governor Barasa posted on his Facebook page.
Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa speaks during the handing over of the Milimani Affordable Housing Project in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega, on March 17, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
The divisions have partly been attributed to the decision by most ODM MPs from Kakamega to distance themselves from party activities, only resurfacing recently during a retreat in Mombasa.
The legislators had notably been absent from Linda Mwananchi and Linda Ground activities across the country, leaving constituents questioning their current political alignment.
Instead, many had adopted a low-profile approach, spending weekends in their constituencies attending funerals and engaging in development matters while avoiding public comment on the supremacy battles between rival ODM factions.
During the meeting, Mr Oparanya was also persuaded to abandon plans to form a new political party, while Dr Oginga moved to counter attempts by UDA to lure Kakamega MPs into switching allegiance ahead of the 2027 polls.
“We discussed the issue of Oparanya leaving ODM and forming a new party, and we gave him an opportunity to explain himself. After extensive discussions, we listened to his concerns and convinced him to remain in ODM and help unite all leaders in the county to strengthen the party. The issues he raised were valid, and we agreed to address them,” said Dr Oginga.
He said Mr Oparanya, one of ODM’s founding members and key leaders, has since abandoned plans to establish a new political outfit.
“Such things happen in politics, but what matters most is unity. Oparanya is now fully with us, and we shall work together. The issue of him forming a new party is no longer there because the differences with Governor Barasa and others he raised were settled,” he said.
Having also served as ODM deputy party leader, Mr Oparanya had, on April 25, during a function in Kakamega, threatened to leave the party, claiming that the Western region was being sidelined by the Linda Ground camp.
“We have supported Raila Odinga wholeheartedly, and that should not be taken for granted. We must now assess what the people of Western Kenya stand to gain from ODM. If that does not happen, then we will have no option but to say goodbye,” he said at the time.
The Cabinet Secretary maintained that his long-standing support for Raila Odinga in successive elections should not be overlooked in the party’s ongoing realignments.
“It is now our time as Western leaders. We cannot be sidelined while others jostle for power following Raila’s exit from active leadership. We, too, deserve a share of that power,” he added.
At the same time, the ODM leader said he had issued a stern warning to Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi and Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga over escalating squabbles that have seen the two engage in a public war of words over the past week.
ODM party leader Dr Oburu Oginga speaks to journalists at Nyanza Golf Club, Kisumu, on May 8, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group
Dr Oginga said he does not take the differences lightly, noting that the feud is hurting the party and that he has already intervened, including addressing the matter at the family level.
For the past week, there has been a bitter exchange between Mr Mbadi and Ms Odinga over events that unfolded during the party retreat in Kilifi on May 4.
“I heard about it and was briefed. It is an issue I am not impressed with, and I do not take it lightly,” said Dr Oginga, adding that the focus of the two leaders should be on strengthening ODM rather than fighting each other.
“I started by speaking to Ruth because she is my sister and, in many ways, like a daughter to me. At the family level, we have also addressed the comments made by Mbadi.
“I want to deal with this issue as an elder, but the two should know that politics of attacking each other is hurting ODM, yet we need everyone on board. Nobody is above the party, regardless of the position they hold,” he added.
Dr Oburu criticised both leaders for airing their differences in public, saying he has had enough of internal party wrangles and will take firm action against leaders who fuel division.
“We cannot keep fighting over issues that can be resolved through dialogue. This party belongs to all of us, and if anyone feels there is a problem, they should consult me. This issue should have been resolved internally instead of the two going public and attacking each other,” he said.
