During the event, Ruto said that Oparanya has the blessing of God to work with him and change Kenya.

Ruto said Oparanya was selected due to his good performance in the county and other offices he held before.

“It is because he was good, selfless and had integrity he had,” Ruto said.

The president said his broad-based government offers a unique opportunity for a better Kenya.

“The broad-based Government offers us a unique opportunity for a better Kenya. A Kenya that embraces all and offers everyone an equal opportunity to participate in building our Nation. A Kenya where we can turn our everyday dream into an everyday reality.’ Ruto added.

The homecoming party was held at the Mabole Primary School Grounds in Butere.

The Cabinet Secretary (CS) of Cooperatives and MSMEs Development Wycliffe Oparanya has issued a warning regarding his potential resignation from the cabinet.

During a church service held in South B, Nairobi, on Sunday, August 11, he expressed that he has been attuned to the concerns of the youth across the nation, particularly their urgent requests for assistance.

The 2022 presidential campaigns are in earnest. William Ruto has dropped all pretence of playing the meek deputy president waiting for his turn at the high table. President Uhuru Kenyatta has shown his displeasure with the DP who has popularized the ‘hustler nation’ narrative across the country. With his popularity soaring, the DP is faced with the hard task of naming a running mate who will further bolster his chances of ascending to the presidency. This writer takes at the leaders likely to be the DP’s running mate in the 2022 general elections. 

Kivutha Kibwana

The Makueni Governor Kivutha Kibwana track record speaks for itself. He has been ranked among the best performing governors in the country over the years. Kivutha is among the governors who has stated that they will run for the top seat. His chances at the presidency are slim, a fact that he is well aware of. The DP handlers know that Kivutha will woo the middle class and this is the validation Ruto wants. The very fact that he is not a Kikuyu will also play to his advantage. 

Musalia Mudavadi

Will ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi swallow his pride and play Ruto’s deputy? This is an offer the uninspiring ANC leader may consider given that the deputy president seat is protected by the constitution. Ruto knows very well that Mudavadi will bring the much needed Luhya vote. 

Charity Ngilu 

The DP has promised in the past that he will go for a female running mate. If this is the case, Ruto will definitely go for the charismatic Charity Ngilu who knows her way around politics at the very highest level. The Kitui county governor is a tough cookie and is more refined than the likes of nominated Nairobi women rep Millicent Omanga. 

Aden Duale 

He is among the senior-most leaders from the Somali community. Duale has been a loyal supporter of the DP and has suffered the consequences of being associated with him. He was kicked out as the Majority Leader after he differed with the Jubilee Party honchos. The Garissa Township MP has a national appeal. 

Wycliffe Oparanya

Although he is the ODM deputy party leader, anything is very possible in politics. Allegiances and alliances are formed of politicians you never imagined would work together. The Kakamega county boss term in office comes to an end in 2022 and a proposition to be a running mate for a candidate most likely to be the next president will be too enticing to let slip. Oparanya will bring in the much needed Western vote.

Marrying multiple wives in Kenya is legal.  On 1 May 2014 the polygamy bill was made legislation after years of push and shove among legislators and resistance from religious leaders. Even with this law, most men would rather their wives are not aware of the existence of another woman. This is mostly on account of many Kenyans being Christians-a religion that frowns polygamy. But we have Kenyans who have married second wives and have made it official. This writer takes a look at powerful Kenyans with more than one wife. 

Dr. Boni Khalwale-Former Kakamega Senator 

Almost every year Khalwale has a child sitting for either the Kenya Certificate of Primary Education (KCPE) exams or the Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE. He is a proud father who has done a good job educating his many children if the scores they post in national exams are anything to go by. He is married to three wives. His first wife Adelide succumbed to  pulmonary hypertension in 2019. The ex-senator married Adelide when he was a second year at UoN and they were together for 39 years. His second wife is Jospehine and the third is Diana Okeno. 

Also Read: Dr. Boni Khalwale Biography, Age, Education Family And Career

Oscar Sudi-Kapseret MP

The firebrand is married to Lilian Sudi and Ann Sudi. One of his wife is a sister to controversial politician Don Bosco Gichana. In 2015, the politician made headlines after he assaulted Kibet Komen after he found him with a woman he claimed was his wife. Kibet told Standard newspaper of his ordeal in the hands of the legislator and his aides:

“……….. I heard a commotion behind me and when I turned, I saw a man assaulting the woman we were with,”

“I had not even gone to fight, but to find out what was going on. I asked a question and the MP turned on me with kicks and punches. He demanded to know why I was with the woman, whom he claimed was his wife, as his goons descended on me..”

Wycliffe Oparanya-Kakamega Governor 

The Kakamega Governor and ODM deputy party leader is married to Priscillah Oparanya and Caroline Oparanya. Priscillah acts as the first lady of the county and is often seen gracing events. 

David Gikaria-Nakuru Town East MP 

The legislator is married to three wives and he is proud of it. Speaking in a past public event, Gikaria introduced two of three wives:

‘I am the Nakuru Town East MP and when one has a wife he has to acknowledge.

I have several Nakuru Town East First ladies let me introduce my first ladies to you.’

‘This one is Veronicah Wairimu, She is number one, and this one is number two, number three is not here but I will bring her here another day.’

Danson Mungatana

The former Garsen MP’s once illustrious political career has been overshadowed by scandals after scandals. His first wife Violet passed away in 2019 while his second wife is Mwanaisha Chidzuga, a former K24 news anchor. He was in a relationship with beauty queen Cecilia Mwangi and they even had a child together. 

Muigai wa Njoroge

The artist who goes by the name Kigutha is married to Njeri Muigai and Queen Stacey. 

Benson Gathungu aka Muthee Kiengei Wa Watoria

The popular comedian, MC, TV and radio host is married to Keziah Kariuki and Jackline Ngaru.

Bukhungu Stadium
Western being a sporting region it was only natural for the governor to invest heavily in rehabilitating and modernizing the stadium. The stadium is the best in the region.

Roads
Oparanya’s government has tarmacked over 50 km of road. His government is keen on doing atleast 10 km per ward annually of bitumen road with a view of opening 300 km of rural roads. The county has created employment to 3,800 youths who are tasked with cleaning and maintaining the roads.



Bridge
The county government built a bridge that cost three times less than the Sigiri Bridge in Busia county that collapsed days after it was officially opened by the Head of State Uhuru Kenyatta.

The Oparanya Care
This novel maternal health programme idea has been a welcome relief to new mothers who receive kes2000 after childbirth and a similar amount everytime they visit the hospital to have their kids vaccinated. The county boss was quoted by Standard as saying of the project: “This encourages mothers not to miss vaccination because they know when they come, they get something for transport. This is the most popular programme.” The Linda Mtoto na Mama is very popular with the mothers.

Building Teaching and Referral Hospital
Still on health. His government is in the process of building a kes10 billion teaching and referral hospital in partnership with Masinde Muliro University. Already kes2 billion has been sunk in the 750 bed capacity medical school.

Education
The former Planning minister administration worked with school boards to hire 550 hire school teachers. Each teacher is paid kes10,000 in the programme christened ‘top up’. The county spends kes5.5 million a month on the scheme. The county has constructed classrooms blocks for 25 schools which include eight classrooms and offices per block. His administration has recruited 3000 early childhood (ECD) teachers, three per institution. The county pays kes1,000 per pupil to make learning at that level free.

These are just some of the projects initiated by the Governor this writer thought of mentioning before we turn our attention on his net worth and what he owns.

Properties owned by Oparanya

Flats in Kahawa Wendani
The Governor is said to own several flats in Kahawa Wendani.

Five Star Hotel in Kakamega
The county boss is reportedly building a five star hotel in the county.

Home In Butere sub county
Oparanya has a palatial home in Butere sub county

Land
The ODM deputy leader is said to have large parcels of land in Kakamega county.

His net worth
Kakamega County Governor estimated worth is kes1.3 billion.