Oparanya Under Fire Over “Tough Ground” Remarks for Ruto’s 2027 Bid

Oparanya Under Fire Over “Tough Ground” Remarks for Ruto’s 2027 Bid

BUSIA, KENYA – Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has found himself in the eye of a political storm following controversial statements regarding the feasibility of campaigning for President William Ruto’s re-election in Western Kenya.

Speaking during an engagement in Butula, Busia County over the weekend, the former Kakamega Governor admitted that the current political climate is becoming increasingly hostile.

Oparanya cited internal friction within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)—specifically the disciplinary actions against popular figures like Secretary General Edwin Sifuna—as a major hurdle.

The “Sifuna Factor”

Oparanya revealed that voters on the ground are questioning the logic of targeting party stalwarts, making it nearly impossible to sell the Kenya Kwanza agenda in ODM strongholds.

“People are asking why the party is chasing away leaders like Sifuna. These are questions I cannot answer, and it is making the ground very tough for us to secure votes for President Ruto,” Oparanya stated.

Mudavadi Issues Stern Warning

The remarks did not sit well with the government’s top brass. Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi swiftly rebuked Oparanya, urging him to remain focused on his ministerial mandate rather than fueling skepticism about the President’s 2027 prospects.
Mudavadi emphasized that Cabinet Secretaries are “ambassadors of the government’s vision” and should prioritize selling the President’s track record.

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• Focus: Selling the government’s development agenda.
• Warning: Avoiding remarks that could create despondency or affect the President’s re-election strategy.
• Unity: Ensuring the Western region remains a consolidated bloc for the administration.
  As the 2027 general election draws closer, the friction highlights the delicate balancing act faced by former opposition leaders now serving in Ruto’s “broad-based” government. Whether Oparanya will retract his statements remains to be seen, but the “tough ground” narrative has already energized the opposition.
  Follow-up: Would you like me to expand on the specific disciplinary actions mentioned against Edwin Sifuna within the ODM party?

Sifuna’s Case.

The disciplinary actions against Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna have become a flashpoint for the internal division within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The move to oust Sifuna as the party’s Secretary General is rooted in a deep ideological rift between two factions that emerged following the death of Raila Odinga: the “Linda Ground” faction (supporting the broad-based government with President Ruto) and Sifuna’s “Linda Mwananchi” initiative.
Here are the specific details regarding his disciplinary case:

1. Alleged Gross Misconduct

In April 2026, the ODM party, led by National Chairperson Gladys Wanga, officially initiated proceedings to remove Sifuna. The primary charge is gross misconduct, specifically that he persistently and publicly contradicted official party positions.

• Broad-Based Government: Sifuna was accused of undermining the “broad-based” cooperation between ODM and President Ruto’s UDA party. He famously declared the arrangement “dead” during televised interviews, despite the party leadership’s commitment to the alliance.
• Media Appearances: The party cited his appearances on Citizen TV in July 2025 and February 2026, where he allegedly made statements inconsistent with resolutions passed by the party’s Central Committee.

2. Parallel Political Activities

Sifuna is accused of launching the Linda Mwananchi Initiative, which the party claims was an unsanctioned political movement. This initiative was seen as a direct rival to the mainstream party leadership (the “Linda Ground” faction), creating confusion among the grassroots supporters.

3. Chronic Absenteeism from Key Meetings

The disciplinary panel cited Sifuna’s failure to attend critical leadership meetings, including:

• The Central Committee meeting on January 12, 2026.
• The National Executive Committee (NEC) meetings in February and March 2026.
  The party argued that as Secretary General, his absence from these decision-making organs amounted to an abdication of his official duties.

4. Legal and Political Fallout

Sifuna has fought these charges both in court and within the party structure. While he secured conservatory orders from the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal to stop his immediate removal, the party leadership—including Acting Party Leader Oburu Oginga—has pushed forward with the disciplinary hearings.
The backlash Oparanya referred to in Busia stems from the fact that Sifuna remains a popular figure among the youth and urban voters. To many supporters, the attempt to discipline him is viewed as an effort by the “pro-Ruto” wing of ODM to silence voices that remain critical of the current administration.

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