Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has dismissed claims that he is in talks with Deputy President William Ruto, after photos showing them in a meeting emerged online on Thursday.
According to Oparanya, the photos are not current, adding that the meeting was coincidental.
On speculation that he may ditch ODM and form an alliance with DP Ruto, Oparanya noted that he is in the Orange party to stay.
“Those are very old photos of about three weeks ago and have nothing to do with any talks. When people meet in a hotel it doesn't translate into building an alliance… I am in ODM to stay unless Baba (Raila Odinga) moves out,” Oparanya told a local daily.
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Former Sports CS Rashid Echesa who was also in the meeting echoed Oparanya’s remark, noting that the two groups were in separate engagements and bumped into each other leading to the photos.
“We were told Oparanya was in a different meeting with ODM team in the process we ran into each other and one of the members requested for a photo moment. Nothing else was discussed,” Echesa opined.
Oparanya is a key figure in ODM and has already applied for the 2022 presidential ticket alongside Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.
When the photos emerged, some netizens speculated that he could be advancing alliance talks on behalf of ODM, or he may have been pushing his own agenda should the party settle on another candidate as its presidential flag bearer in the 2022 general election.
