Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya came from nowhere to outshine his competitors in the Council of Governors Chairperson seat, including the confident Salim Mvurya. Was it a betrayal to Mvurya who had been assured the post? Well, many still wonder how Oparanya won the hearts of Governors. Insiders at CoG election said Mr Oparanya won the confidence and support of his colleagues, including the most influential ones.
Having secured his second term in a race that saw about 25 of his former colleagues shown the door in the 2017 election, he was one of the best options for the CoG chairman’s post.
According to Sunday Nation, the decision was made largely owing to his charisma and the quiet manner in which he has transformed Kakamega, making it a model of devolution.
Also, working with government as former Minister for Planning where he had unfettered access to the statistics of the country such as literacy levels, healthcare, the poverty index and unemployment was an additional advantage over other competitors.
One of his influential colleagues contacted by this paper said they were awed by Mr Oparanya’s performance but also the 2022 politics played a crucial role.
Of keen interest is the recent meteoric rise in his political profile which played a key role in his election.
One of the most visible achievements by the Oparanya administration has been the rehabilitation and modernisation of Bukhungu Stadium, transforming it into the best sporting facility in the region.
Just recently, the governor received delegations at his homes in both Kakamega and Nairobi, including a high-powered group from Mt Kenya region.
The politicians, edged out of elective politics after the disputed Jubilee Party primaries, held a four-hour closed-door meeting with the ODM deputy party leader at his home in Karen, Nairobi, in December.
At that time, they said that although their discussions touched on the 2022 presidential election, the issue of a referendum to change the country’s governance structure from a purely presidential to a parliamentary system took centre stage.
Kakamega was picked to host last year’s Annual Devolution Conference, one of the most watched gatherings by the national government. The county was also picked to host the 2018 Mashujaa Day celebrations.
Additionally, Oparanya was unanimously elected by his peers as the founding chairman of the Lake Region Economic Bloc, which brings together 14 counties in Western Kenya.