Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya has described the just concluded 5th Annual Devolution Conference as immensely successful and beneficial to the people of Kakamega who reaped big in their businesses.
Speaking at Eregi where he condoled the family of the late Senior Chief of Eregi, Joseph Lisanga Makatiani whom he eulogized as a close friend, the Governor said that the conference saw to it that business people from all classes benefit in one way or the other.
Oparanya said that though not all were allowed to attend the conference, doors were open to the public at the exhibition site where all could access.
He also said that even though the weather didn’t seem conducive to many, it gave an opportunity to shoe shiners and motorcycle riders to benefit in their ventures.
On issues of politics, Governor Oparanya reiterated his ambition for the top seat come 2022, hitting out at former Senator Bonny Khalwale for constantly interfering with the unity of Kakamega people.
“I want to tell off (Boni) Khalalwe and let him know I cannot allow outsiders to speak about us, purporting to unite us,” said Oparanya.
He told mourners that he strongly supports the spirit of the famous handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, and called for more cooperation between County and national governments.
“We support close working relations between the county governments and the national government for the sake of development for our people”, He added.
The Governor emphasized that time was ripe for Kakamega County to leverage on its huge population to demand the peoples’ rightful political stake in 2022 elections.
The Governor later paid tribute to the late Rosemary Anjiri Makotsi, daughter of former Butere MP, the late Hon Okwara who died recently in a road accident.
Addressing mourners at Emutao Village in Ikolomani Sub County, governor Oparanya urged the family to accept the inevitability of death and move on.
Also present was Mr Sammy Itemere, PS for Broadcasting and Telecommunications, among other dignitaries.