This archive report was first published on 22 April 2020.
Wycliffe Oparanya Declares War on Musalia Mudavadi in Vihiga County ¶
Wycliffe Oparanya, the Kakamega governor, has embarked on an aggressive campaign to weaken Musalia Mudavadi's hold on Vihiga county, a perceived stronghold of the Luhya kingpin. Oparanya's move is seen as a bid to boost his presidential ambitions and gain a foothold in Western province.
According to sources, Oparanya has been holding secret night meetings with leaders in Vihiga at Roddys Hotel and at a hotel owned by Rev Douglas Beru at Cheptulu township. The meetings are aimed at courting key opinion leaders, including elders, MPs, and MCAs, to join his camp.
Already, Oparanya has secured the support of MPs Chris Omulele and Godffrey Osotsi, who are using their influence to court Emuhaya MP Omboko Milemba. Vihiga MP Ernest Kivai, a close ally of Mudavadi, is said to have a soft spot for Oparanya, whom they studied with at the university.
Former Vihiga MP Yusuf Chanzu, who was in the 2017 governorship race, wants to reclaim his parliamentary seat in 2022. Immediate former Vihiga county assembly speaker Nixon Butiya, chief whip Victor Ijaika, and deputy minority leader Rev Douglas Beru have also joined Oparanya's camp.
Butiya and Ijaika have accused Mudavadi of failing to use his position to defend them when Governor Wilbur Ottichilo spent Sh500,000 to compromise MCAs to oust them after he survived an impeachment motion.
Meanwhile, Mudavadi's camp has been thrown into a panic, and they have sent Vihiga women representative Beatrice Adagala to Oparanya to request a meeting between the governor and former VP to try and contain his growing support in Vihiga. However, Oparanya has dismissed Adagala, arguing that he has made his decision to fill the political gap Mudavadi has left in Luhyaland and also gun for presidency.
As Oparanya makes his entry in Vihiga through Bunyoreland, his good history with the sub-tribe is evident, having served as a teacher at Ebusakami Secondary School. The governor has been using Osotsi as his pointman in several functions in the area, including a Salvation Army church function at Mudavadi Girls High School Madzuu and a harambee for the reconstruction of Givogi Primary School in Hamisi.
