I would not vote for Wetangula – Governor Oparanya

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has hit out at Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula over his 2017 presidential bid.

Speaking in Kakamega on Saturday, Oparanya said that Wetangula does not have the requisite qualities to lead the country, noting that the 2017 bid will be a two-horse race between ODM leader Raila Odinga and Jubilee’s Uhuru Kenyatta.

“There are only two horses in the 2017 elections; Raila and Uhuru. The rest are donkeys.”

He accused Wetangula of restricting his campaigns to Kakamega saying if he is serious about his presidential bid, he should focus on reaching out to other parts of the country.

“How can Wetangula be president when all he is always in funerals here in Kakamega with Khalwale. To be president, one should ensure he reaches out to other tribes in the country to form a strong force.”

The Ford Kenya-ODM rivalry in Kakamega also played out in Oparanya’s speech with the ODM deputy party leader saying he would rather vote for Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi than Ford Kenya leader Wetangula.

“If I was to vote for a Luhya in the presidential elections, I would rather vote for Mudavadi than Wetangula.

“The people of ANC are my friends because they are well-organised than Ford Kenya. We have worked with Mudavadi before and we are in talks to ensure we work together to remove Jubilee in 2017,” said Oparanya.

He however said that Raila is the only one who is better-placed to defeat Jubilee advising Mudavadi to consolidate his support in readiness for 2022 saying he would have a better chance then.

Oparanya further disregarded apparent enticements from Jubilee Party saying he would not quit ODM for the Uhuru-led party.

“I am the ODM deputy party leader, just behind Raila Odinga (party leader). So of what benefit would my move from ODM to Jubilee be, yet they have left out the people of Kakamega,”

He called on CORD to unite and form a formidable force that would face Jubilee in the 2017 General Election.