Former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya has told off attempts by some leaders in western to engage the community in the disguise of giving political direction to the western region
Speaking on West Fm’s Crossfire program on Sunday 2nd June 2024, Oparanya questioned the intentions of the previous Bukhungu 1 and Bukhungu 2 meetings, saying organizers were brokers whose aim was to use the community for personal gain
Referring to the on-going debate on whether a Bukhungu three meeting should be convened in the coming days, the former Kakamega governor expressed his fears that Bukhungu three would still not bear fruit since the first two meetings convened by COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli had nothing to show for
‘’Tell us, what did Bukhungu one and two achieve, so that we are together in Bukhungu three?’’ Oparanya posed
Giving details of the events after the 2022 elections, Oparanya said there is trust deficit following the decision by some notable Azimio leaders to quickly embrace and work with President William Ruto was a concern hence the reluctance by many leaders to join calls for Bukhungu three
While appealing to western Kenya leaders to quickly organize the community, Oparanya called on Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula to lead the way in uniting the Mulembe nation
‘’The two leaders Wetangula and Musalia are in government, in big positions, to me, I will task them that responsibility’’ Oparanya added, saying it was impossible for him (not elected now) to organize or summon leaders from the region
He called on the two to take responsibility because nobody would decline an invitation from the Prime Cabinet Secretary and the speaker of the national assembly including himself, adding that he would gladly attend such a meeting if it were to be convened
‘’My two elder brothers have parties and for now they have the authority to summon us, bring us together, to give our views and if we had one party in western, we would be too far’’ the former Butere legislator and Kakamega governor added.
On One man, one Vote, One shilling, Oparanya, a former minister of planning says he fully supports the idea citing that in the 2009 census which he was fully part of, the population of western Kenya community was over five million people, saying it was unfair for less populated areas to receive more money than densely populated areas
‘’I concur, where there are more people, they should get more money, where there are less people, then they should get an allocation that is enough for them, than excess’’ Oparanya build his case giving examples of counties that were receiving huge allocations yet densely populated counties were struggling to fund education and other key projects and programs
He however wanted the conversation to be a national debate, calling on the Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to be conscious of the whole country and not just advance the interests of his backyard – the Mt. Kenya region
