The battle for the soul of the Mulembe Nation has entered a new phase, with a powerful faction of Western Kenya ODM MPs drawing a line in the sand: Wycliffe Oparanya must sit at the head of the table in any negotiations with President Ruto’s UDA.

Following the exit of Raila Odinga from the local political stage to the African Union, a power vacuum has opened up. The MPs, led by Nabii Nabwera, are backing the Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary as the de facto "Kingpin," rejecting any talks that exclude him. This is a direct challenge to other regional heavyweights like Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and Speaker Moses Wetang'ula.

"He Is Our General"

"You cannot shave a man in his absence," MP Nabwera declared at a press conference in Kakamega. "Oparanya has the scars of the struggle. He delivered Kakamega to ODM when others were wavering. If UDA wants to talk to Western, they must talk to Oparanya."

• The UDA Infiltration: The demand comes amidst allegations—voiced by Godfrey Osotsi—that UDA is executing a "hostile takeover" of ODM grassroots structures in the region. By positioning Oparanya as the gatekeeper, ODM loyalists hope to stem the tide of defections to the yellow party.
• The 2027 Chessboard: Oparanya’s role as a Cabinet Secretary in Ruto’s "Broad-Based Government" gives him a unique hybrid status. He is in government but leads the opposition base. His supporters view him as the only leader capable of unifying the fractured Luhya vote block against the divide-and-rule tactics of the ruling coalition.
• The Mudavadi Factor: This move is also a subtle jab at Mudavadi. By elevating Oparanya, the ODM faction is signalling that the Prime Cabinet Secretary does not speak for the entire region, keeping the "Luhya Unity" elusive as ever.

The Gatekeeper

The message to State House is clear: The road to Western Kenya votes goes through Oparanya. Whether President Ruto accepts these terms or continues to bypass the brokers remains to be seen. But one thing is certain: the scramble for the Western vote has begun in earnest, and Oparanya is refusing to be a spectator.