Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala termed the Governor of Kakamega County, Wycliffe Oparanya as not having a presidential face, hence not fit to become the next President of Kenya.
"Ukweli wa maneno Oparanya, hii upresident ata kuna sura ya kukua president. (Oparanya, frankly speaking, there's a presidential face)" he said, implying that the governor was not presidential based on his looks.
Speaking at a burial, Malala spoke broadly on the importance of the unity of the Luhya community, saying that many aspirants running for political seats would divide votes in the Luhya community. “Kila mtu hapa ni kiongozi (Everyone here is a leader),” he added.
He also pointed out how other communities are united in supporting political aspirants from their region and urged the Luhya community to do the same.
He termed Mukhisa Kituyi and Wycliffe Oparanya as people who are dividing the Luhya community.
In another case where the politics of looks sparked debates in Kenya was when during an interview with Jeff Koinange, Miguna Miguna, claimed to have been appointed the senior advisor by Raila and not Esther Passaris, saying that she was selling her beauty’.
“She emerged from nowhere, she is ‘mama supu’. She is selling beauty. She thinks beauty gives you the credibility to go for leadership. Esther Passaris is nothing but a flower girl,” said Miguna.
Also, while campaigning for the presidency in 2012, Kalonzo said that his face was enough to assure confidence and attract foreign investors to Kenya.
In an unrelated incident, Oparanya asked ODM leader Raila Odinga to abandon his 2022 presidential bid. He said that Raila has been in politics for a long time and that he was the only leader from the Luhya community who had supported Raila faithfully.
“When I joined the parliament in 2002, Raila was there, and I have been with him all through. I was also part of the team that formed ODM,” said Oparanya.
He also added that he greatly contributed to Raila’s votes in 2013 and 2017.
