The Orange Democratic Movement(ODM) deputy party leader, Wycliffe Oparanya, has explained why he was willing to abandon Raila Odinga, in the 2022 presidential race.
While addressing the public on Wednesday, November 10, Oparanya stated that he held a discussion with the Amani National Congress party leader Musalia Mudavadi, and the FORD Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula, to have them merge their parties.
He mentioned that the Luhya community forming one party would have made him dump Raila and join forces with the Luhya leaders automatically, as the race to State House hots up.
“I told my fellow leaders Musalia and Wetangula to dissolve those small parties and have one, so that I can leave ODM and join them.”
Oparanya however stated that even after giving them that offer, Mudavadi and Wetang'ula never showed any signs of dissolving the parties.
The ODM deputy party leader revealed that the two One Kenya Alliance (OKA) principals only intimated that they would hold a committee meeting, and discuss the issue, yet they have never come up with a way forward.
He stated that instead, they both sought endorsement from their supporters, which in turn made the Luhya community more divided.
“I told them to form one united party for all the Luhyas, and I said I am willing to leave ODM for that. Let me ask you, did they dissolve?
“They said they will have a meeting to agree on that, but to-date, the results of the committee are yet to be spoken,” the Kakamega governor stated.
He further cited that unlike other communities, the luhya people do not have unity when it comes to choosing leaders to represent them at the national level.
“Why is it that when we as Luhyas go to the table, we go as three or four people? Why can’t we just have one person representing us? Why haven’t we ever thought about that?” the governor paused.
Notably, Oparanya bashed the two leader’s efforts of being in the 2022 ballot, saying they have no clear plan.
“All you keep saying is that you will be on the ballot. Is that something you can stand before people and say?
“I can also say that I will be on the ballot in 2022. But I can only say that if I have a clear plan. Have one before saying that,” he remarked.
