On Sunday, July 28, 2024, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa endorsed his predecessor Wycliffe Oparanya for the position of Cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development.
During a church service at Happy Mission Ministries International Church in Mayoni Ward, Matungu Sub-County, Kakamega County, Barasa confidently stated that Oparanya is well-suited for the role and will excel in his new assignment. He emphasized that Oparanya’s academic background and extensive experience make him an ideal candidate for the position.
“My predecessor and Cabinet Secretary nominee for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Wycliffe Oparanya, has what it takes to deliver for Kenyans in his new role,” Barasa said.
Barasa urged members of parliament who are members of the committee on appointment to fast-track the vetting process to allow the nominees to settle in and start delivering for Kenyans, in the interest of continuity of service delivery.
“Members of Parliament should fast-track the vetting process to allow the new CS to settle in and start delivering for Kenyans, in the interest of continuity of service delivery,” he said.
The governor assured members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of the unity in the party even though the key leaders of the party have been nominated to work under President Wiliam Ruto.
“I also wish to reassure ODM adherents that despite Oparanya’s elevation to the Cabinet, the party remains strong. Kakamega will host a delegates meeting in the coming weeks to discuss the strengthening of the party ahead of 2027,” Barasa continued.
Barasa’s endorsement follows Lawyer Saitabao Ole Kanchory’s recent petition in a Malindi court challenging the nomination of Wycliffe Oparanya and thirteen others for Cabinet Secretary positions ahead of the August vetting. In a court document dated Friday, July 26, 2024, shared on his X account, Kanchory revealed that he filed a constitutional petition and application under a certificate of urgency, contesting the nomination of fourteen out of the twenty CS nominees.
Kanchory argues that these nominations violate the constitution and undermine the country’s multiparty democracy.
“I have this afternoon filed a Constitutional Petition and Application under Certificate of Urgency challenging the nomination for appointment as CS of 14 of the 20 nominees on grounds, inter alia, that it amounts to mongrelization, bastardization and cannibalization of our multiparty democracy and a gross violation of the Constitution. Kenya ni home and we will not relent. They will not believe,” Kanchory said.
On July 19, 2024, speaking during a press briefing held at State House Nairobi, Ruto disclosed his intentions of forming a broad-based cabinet that will assist his administration in driving the urgently needed transformation of Kenya.
“Consequently, I have started the process of forming a new, broad-based cabinet to assist me in driving the urgently needed and irreversible transformation of our country,” Ruto revealed.
My predecessor and Cabinet Secretary nominee for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Hon. Wycliffe Oparanya, has what it takes to deliver for Kenyans in his new role.
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— FCPA Fernandes Barasa, OGW (@BarasaFernandes) July 28, 2024
