This archive report was first published on 19 July 2020.
On July 19, 2020, a group of Amani National Congress (ANC) MPs from Kakamega County met with Governor Wycliffe Oparanya to discuss the party's future.
During the meeting, the MPs urged Governor Oparanya to support party leader Musalia Mudavadi in his bid for the presidency in the 2022 General Election.
They also advised the governor to position himself for a key position in the next government, should the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) lead to constitutional changes.
According to Tindi Mwale, an ANC MP from Butere, Governor Oparanya should consider running for the deputy Prime Minister post, which would be a stepping stone to becoming the deputy Prime Minister.
Mr Mwale stated, “Should the BBI result in leadership changes in the Constitution and should Governor Oparanya decide to contest for the Butere parliamentary seat as a stepping stone to becoming the deputy Prime Minister, I will step down and support him,”
He added that he would eye other positions, including senator and deputy governor.
Another ANC MP, Ayub Savula from Lugari, said that since Mr Mudavadi is looking to succeed President Uhuru Kenyatta in the 2022 General Election, he will not clash with Mr Oparanya should the latter go for the deputy PM office.
Mr Savula stated, “We are waiting for the fate of the BBI. We shall sit together as leaders from Western region so that we share slots in the next government. We don’t have any conflict between Mudavadi and Oparanya because they are not competing for any seat,”
He called on the Luhya community to stand with Mr Mudavadi, saying the former deputy PM has emerged as the most senior leader from the region to propel the community to national leadership.
Justus Murunga, an ANC MP from Matungu, urged Governor Oparanya and Devolution Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa to stop serving the interests of “other people” and unite with Mr Mudavadi and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula “who put aside their political differences for the sake of unity in the Western region”.
He said time has come for the Luhya community to unite and guard its votes jealously so it can determine the country’s political leadership.
