OPARANYA VS WETANGULA

GOVERNOR WYCLIFFE OPARANYA ASKS FORD KENYA TO FOLD UP: 

I take serious issue with Hon Moses Wetangula’s weekend call to the Luhya community to join Ford- Kenya and reject any politician who is not in this party. 

That statement goes against the spirit of the coalition and raises questions about Hon Wetangula’s commitment to CORD and why the coalition should back him when he is wrecking, undermining and weakening it from within. 

As ODM Deputy Party Leader, I wish to let Hon Wetangula know that ODM is the party with the largest following and highest number of elected leaders in Western Kenya. It is a fact that Ford Kenya has only three elected MPs in all of former Western Province. There is a problem when big rivers begin to join small rivers. 

I therefore advise anyone from this region who wants to ascend to national leadership, including Hon Wetangula, to join ODM instead of fighting it. 

I also wish to remind Hon Wetangula that when the Luhya community rallied behind ODM leader Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi and won elections in 2007, he is one of the people who teamed up with Mt Kenya colleagues to frustrate and steal that victory. At that time, even our neighbours from the Rift Valley had teamed up with us to form a formidable western alliance that would have kept power in this region. 

The stolen ODM victory was the clearest path for the Luhya community to get the Presidency. Raila would certainly have handed over power to Musalia Mudavadi whom he proceeded to make a Deputy Prime Minister under the Grand Coalition Government in addition to making Hon Kenneth Marende the best Speaker of the National Assembly that Kenya has had. 
In Kenya’s highly tribal politics, ODM, which is the single largest party in the country, offers the best chance for the Luhya community to ascend to power. Our best bet as a community is to stay in ODM and position ourselves to use it to ascend to power. Kenya is big, divided and complex. We will navigate it using a large party that has learnt the art of navigation, not through a party struggling in one or two counties. Our community will follow an arrangement that enhances its chances and uplifts rather than diminishes the stature of its leaders. Wetangula should fold up Ford Kenya and join the community in ODM. Good leaders listen to and follow their people. 

H.E WYCLIFFE OPARANYA; 
ODM DEPUTY PARTY LEADER 
GOVERNOR; 
COUNTY OF KAKAMEGA. 
KAKAMEGA; 
APRIL 11, 2016