Details of Ruto's Meeting With Gov Oparanya

ODM Deputy Party leader Wycliffe Oparanya (left) and William Ruto's ally, former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri (right)
ODM Deputy Party leader Wycliffe Oparanya (left) and William Ruto's ally, former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri (right)
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Deputy President William Ruto secretly met ODM Deputy Party Leader and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya at the Olare Motorogi Conservancy on Thursday, April 8.

The DP was accompanied by former Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri and his former Sports counterpart Rashid Echesa.

Although Governor Oparanya was reluctant to share details of the meeting, he hinted that the DP wanted them to form an alliance, predicting that both United Democratic Party (UDA) and ODM could work together in the future.

Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa (second left), Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (second right) and Kisii Governor James Ongwae (right) during the swearing-in of Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo on December 29, 2020.
Devolution CS Eugene Wamalwa (second left), Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya (second right) and Kisii Governor James Ongwae (right) during the swearing-in of Nyamira Governor Amos Nyaribo on December 29, 2020.

"It was a chance meeting. Being a politician, the DP asked if we can work together and I told him that such a decision had to be made by the party," Oparanya told Nation.

Further, he stated that the photos circulation online were old and had nothing to do with the talks.

On his part, Echesa alleged that members of the UDA party were holding a meeting when they were joined by Oparanya.

Oparanya is one of the ODM party members who has submitted an application for the Party's presidential ticket come 2022. The other is his Mombasa counterpart Ali Hassan Joho. 

Recently, the Kakamega governor made remarks that seemed to be contradicting those of his party leader Raila Odinga. He had wanted the BBI referendum pushed to next year so that available resources could be used to deal with Covid-19.

"If there is no money at the National Treasury, there is no need of pushing to have the referendum this year. We should plan to hold the referendum next year when our economy has stabilised and Covid-19 contained," he said.

The handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Odinga has in recent days been put to test with the latter's allies suggesting that the BBI secretariat offices had been closed and Interior PS Karanja Kibicho allegedly threatened the unity of the handshake.

However, a night meeting between the handshake duo affirmed that the referendum was still on.

President Uhuru Kenyatta appending his signature on the Constitution Of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 at KICC on November 25, 2020
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta appending his signature on the Constitution Of Kenya (Amendment) Bill, 2020 at KICC on November 25, 2020
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