Last week, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission arrested former Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya over alleged embezzlement of KSH 1.3 billion.
Oparanya, who doubles up as ODM deputy party leader was taken to Integrity Centre Police Station, Nairobi together with his wife Priscillah Oparanya.
The anti-graft commission later on said that Oparanya’s arrest was part of the ongoing investigations which indicated that public funds were unlawfully acquired through proxies and associates during his 10-year tenure at the helm of the County.
“The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) wishes to confirm that today, Wednesday, 23rd August 2023, the Commission conducted a successful search on various targets as part of an ongoing investigation into allegations of embezzlement of public funds amounting to over Ksh.1.3 billion from Kakamega County during the reign of former Governor, Wycliffe Oparanya, and where it was found that public funds were unlawfully acquired through proxies and associates,” said EACC Deputy CEO Abdi Mohamud.
However, speaking for the first time since he was released, the former County boss stated that the arrest was not about corruption as detectives had earlier said.
Oparanya, a close ally of opposition leader Raila Odinga sensationally claimed that the arrest was orchestrated by President William Ruto compelling him to dump Raila’s Aimio for Kenya Kwanza.
In a report by The Star, the ODM deputy party leader however maintained that he will not join the Kenya Kwanza political camp led by President William Ruto.
He asked why the Head of State was after him when he already has Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Masika Wetang’ula.
Oparanya, however, said he will not succumb to Kenya Kwanza’s pressure to join their coalition and that he will stand firm and remain loyal to his party ODM, which is currently under the Azimio la Umoja coalition.
“Ruto, you can’t force me to join your coalition. You have Mudavadi and Wetang’ula, why are you fighting to have me in your camp at any cost? I am in ODM and I will remain in ODM,” Oparanya said.
