Co-operatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has warned opposition leaders that the presidency cannot be won through political noise and sideshows.
Oparanya said winning requires strategy, networks, resources and unity.
Speaking at Ebukokolo Primary School during a development tour, Oparanya said a presidential contest was not a walk in the park and required experience and careful planning.
The former Kakamega governor cited the presidential ambitions of former firebrand Butere MP Martin Shikuku and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi as examples of how political popularity and large crowds do not necessarily translate into victory at the ballot.
“Shikuku was a tough politician but only managed 100,000 votes, with 33,000 coming from Butere alone. Mudavadi also vied and scored 400,000 votes despite attracting mammoth crowds across Kenya, while Raila Odinga vied several times but never made it to State House,” Oparanya said.
“To win the presidency is not a joke. It is not about noise-making or sideshows. It is about strategy, networks, resources and unity of purpose,” he said.
Oparanya urged those interested in succeeding President William Ruto to first build their leadership profiles and political networks before presenting themselves to voters.
He also defended the broad-based government arrangement between the ruling UDA and ODM, saying the two parties had agreed to continue working together.
“We were in Naivasha not long ago and we made a resolution that we will continue working together as UDA and ODM under the broad-based government arrangement on a 50-50 equal share of government,” Oparanya said.
The CS was accompanied by Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka, Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, Shinyalu MP Fred Ikana and host MP Omboko Milemba.
Oparanya said a lack of unity among the Luhya community had cost Western Kenya development and representation in key government positions.
He argued that the region continued to lag behind partly because of its longstanding support for opposition political formations.
The former governor said Ruto’s administration had initiated several development projects in Western Kenya compared with previous governments and urged residents to support the President for a second term.
Milemba said the Kenya Kwanza administration had initiated transport infrastructure, modern markets, electricity connections and education projects in the region.
He argued that the government deserved a second term to complete its development agenda.
