From left: Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa (inset), Kajiado Governor Joseph Ole Lenku, State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito (inset), Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen and Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo (inset).
A growing power struggle is emerging within President William Ruto’s camp, as top government officials clash with politicians in a supremacy struggle that could derail the Head of State’s re-election campaign.
The divisions are particularly intense in some areas where the President expects maximum support, even as the Mount Kenya region is increasingly seen as slipping away.
In Kakamega County, the rivalry between Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya and Governor Fernandes Barasa reached a crescendo over the weekend, with the county chief calling on President Ruto to fire the minister.
“I’m telling President Ruto we respect him but here in Kakamega you have brought a jam through your CS Oparanya, who doesn’t know his work and doesn’t understand his job. His work here in Kakamega is night meetings to remove me, orchestrating my downfall. The work you gave him is not helping us. Please give the job to another person,” said Mr Barasa.
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.
He claimed that the CS had been holding night meetings to marshal support for Kakamega Women Representative Elsie Muhanda, who is eyeing the county boss job.
“Oparanya has only one vote and can’t decide who is elected as a governor, MP, Senate or Woman Representative,” added Mr Barasa.
But Mr Oparanya, who served as Kakamega governor between 2013 and 2022, said he has no preferred candidate in the governor race. The CS questioned why the Mr Farnandez was engaged in unnecessary proxy wars instead of delivering to the electorate, whom he said have been complaining of poor performance by the administration.
“He seems to be at war with himself, because he is a nobody to me in politics. Why would I sponsor people against him? Election is competitive, and if he fears contest then he should quit politics,” said Mr Oparanya.
He also dismissed claims that their perceived fallout was caused by an alleged breach of sharing of positions in the county government.
“Why would I want to share positions and I had served my term. The man has no political experience. I would advise him to focus on his reelection. People are saying he has failed terribly and was recently ranked at number 46 in performance,” added the CS.
Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka has also waded into the politics, telling Mr Barasa off over his remarks that President Ruto should fire Mr Oparanya from his docket.
“What has he done himself in terms of development? He has always been ranked poorly in terms of development and most of the projects Oparanya started have not been completed. Barasa development record is poor and we will not allow him to propagate politics of hate to the extent of calling on the President to fire Oparanya,” said the ODM MP in his constituency.
In Kajiado County, State House Comptroller Katoo Ole Metito has not been seeing eye to eye with Governor Joseph Ole Lenku.
The two vied for the governorship in 2022, with Mr Lenku running on an ODM ticket while Mr Ole Metito, who ran on a UDA ticket, came second in the race. The two also hail from Kajiado South.
The Governor was booed in Kimana, Kajiado South, in what was attributed to the political rivalry between the two politicians.
“You know that wouldn’t deter me and President Ruto, just know we are supporting you to accomplish your agenda,” said Mr Lenku.
Kajiado County Governor Joseph Ole Lenku.
Mr Lenku has announced that he will vie for the Senate, but he has expressed anger over the political arrangement between UDA and ODM that will see Mr Ole Metito seek the governorship and Judy Pareno run for the Senate. He recently threatened to leave ODM and join Linda Mwananchi.
There is someone who is despising us in front of you and we will not disrupt your meeting and we will not retaliate. Katoo is claiming to be the spokesman of the Maasai yet he is your spokesman. They even said Amboseli wouldn’t be given back to the community but your word is final,” said Mr Lenku.
The two have also been embroiled in a dispute over the Sh16 million awarded to Mr Ole Metito in a court case involving a Kajiado journalist.
Mr Ole Metito filed and won a case against Jonathan Teikan, the editor of Kajiado Star, an online news platform, over a controversial land story published by Mr Teikan.
In May, the Governor organised a fundraising event to raise money to pay Mr Ole Metito, with accusations and counter-accusations coming from each camp.
In the Rift Valley, Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen is at war with a section of politicians over his alleged influence on 2027 politics with 2032 in mind.
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen.
On August 5, Keiyo South MP Gideon Kimaiyo publicly criticised Mr Murkomen, accusing him of sponsoring political projects in Elgeyo-Marakwet County.
“Elgeyo Marakwet wouldn’t be someone's Kingdom and he wouldn’t succeed with his plans in Keiyo South. If you want to be Kingpin, fight those who are competing with you and not Keiyo South,” said Mr Kimaiyo while in Kapchorwa, Elgeyo-Marakwet.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei said Mr Murkomen’s alleged decision to sponsor aspiring candidates against elected leaders would fail.
“Let him shelve his 2032 ambitions and Kingship for now and help the president. He can’t be fighting to be the spokesman of the community when we have president Ruto.
The CS is also said to be engaged in a vicious supremacy battle with Kericho Senator Aaron Cheruiyot over control of the region after President Ruto’s presidency.
Politicians and MPs from the Rift Valley have been aligning themselves with either the Mr Murkomen or Mr Cheruiyot camps in a battle pitting the North and South Rift regions.
In Busia, PS for the State Department for MSME Development, Susan Mang'eni, a week ago launched a scathing attack on former Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba over UDA politics in the region, claiming he was blackmailing President Ruto.
“Ababu Namwamba you are against President Ruto’s reelection because you are hurting and blackmailing him. Budalang’i people will never remain in perpertual poverty because of your selfishness. You are not Budalang’i and Budalang’i is not you,” said Ms Mang’eni claiming the former Cs tried to use his political influence to disrupt a UDA meeting.
Mr Namwamba, who is Kenya’s High Commissioner to Uganda, did not respond to Ms Mang’eni’s attack, as he did not answer messages or calls made to him.
On June 16, Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira criticised Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku over remarks suggesting that the Mount Kenya region should be divided into Mount Kenya East and Mount Kenya West.
He said Mount Kenya East had historically benefited when leaders from the wider Mount Kenya region held power and urged residents to support President William Ruto’s bid for a second term before rallying behind a single, united candidate in 2032.
Deputy President Prof Kithure Kindiki also told off Mr Ruku over the issue, saying the regions should remain politically intact and vote for President Ruto.
Previously, the Interior Permanent Secretary was at loggerheads with a section of Nyanza politicians, notably Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Homa Bay Town MP Opondo Kaluma, but the divisions have since died down after the rival camps reconciled.
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