Wednesday, December
31, 2025 - Co-operatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary, Wycliffe Oparanya,
has declared his willingness to leave the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.
Speaking on Tuesday, December 30th, during the
burial of former Lugari MP, Cyrus Jirongo, the former Kakamega Governor said he
was prepared to make the sacrifice of quitting ODM if it would help consolidate
for Luhyia unity.
“I want to say this before you, if we are a problem, I am
ready to leave the ODM party.”
“I want to state clearly here that we should unite together.
Because I know that if we come together, we have a sleeping giant in this
country,” Oparanya remarked.
A long-serving ODM member, Oparanya previously held the
position of Deputy Party Leader before stepping down in August 2024 following
his appointment to President William Ruto’s Cabinet under the broad-based Government
arrangement.
His latest comments add to growing unease within ODM, which
has recently witnessed high-profile defections and dissent.
Just a week earlier, Suba South MP, Caroli Omondi, announced
that he will not seek re-election on an ODM ticket in 2027.
Omondi revealed plans to contest the seat under a new
political outfit, expressing doubts about the party’s ability to conduct
credible nominations.
He accused ODM of zoning practices that could lock out
aspirants and suggested the party was receiving external directives.
Omondi further pointed to the swift appointment of Oburu
Oginga as acting leader following Raila Odinga’s death, claiming that the
decision was made without his knowledge.
“That call came from somewhere else, and that worried me
because it therefore seems ODM is getting directions and control from somewhere
else,” he said.
The twin pronouncements by Oparanya and Omondi underscore
mounting uncertainty over ODM’s future following Raila Odinga’s death.
The Kenyan DAILY POST
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