Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has indicated he is ready to step down from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) if it will help consolidate the Luhya community under a single political banner.
His remarks came on Tuesday during the burial of former Cabinet minister and ex-Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo.
Oparanya recalled Jirongo’s consistent call for Luhya unity, noting that discussions on community cohesion were a regular feature of their interactions.
“Na kila wakati, akikutana na mimi, mambo ya Waluhya. Siku moja nikamwuliza, mimi ndio shida, kwa sababu niko kwa chama cha ODM?” he said, highlighting the late politician’s concern over party divisions.
The CS said he responded to Jirongo by expressing readiness to leave his position as ODM deputy party leader to enable a united front for the Luhya.
“Nikasema, kama mimi ni shida, niko tayari kutoka kwa chama cha ODM kama deputy party leader wakati huo. Tuje pamoja, tuunde chama kimoja ambacho watu wetu wote wataingia hapa,” he added.
Oparanya also addressed the current fragmentation within the Luhya political landscape, where several leaders, including Jirongo during his lifetime, head separate political parties.
He said the disunity has limited the community’s influence in national politics, despite the Luhya being one of Kenya’s largest ethnic groups.
Declaring his position firmly before mourners, Oparanya said, “Nataka niseme mbele yenu, kama sisi ni shida, mimi niko tayari kutoka kwa chama cha ODM. Nataka niseme wazi hapa, tuungane pamoja. Because I know if we come together, we have a sleeping giant in this country.”
His comments come amid ongoing discussions about the political alignment of Luhya leaders ahead of future elections, with community unity seen as a critical factor in shaping influence at both county and national levels.
By publicly offering to step aside from ODM, Oparanya has underscored his commitment to prioritizing collective Luhya interests over party loyalty, echoing the late Jirongo’s longstanding message of cohesion.
The speech highlights persistent debates within Kenyan politics about ethnic bloc unity and the role of party allegiance in determining strategic alliances ahead of general elections.