Deputy President Dr William Ruto has been dealt another major blow after president Uhuru Kenyatta backed key ODM leader Raila Odinga’s pointman for a top seat.

Uhuru has backed Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya to retain his position at the helm of the Council of Governors when they vote on Monday, January 20.

Reports by The Star indicate that the Head of State’s support has already been communicated to a number of governors, making it easier for Oparanya to extend his reign by another year.

This, however, is a big blow to Deputy President William Ruto and his allies who had reportedly lined up Mandera’s Ali Roba as Oparanya’s possible replacement. Roba later said he was not vying and that he will support Oparanya.

“For the record, Governor Roba is not running for any position at the CoG and will throw his support behind Oparanya. He is not aligned to any other camp,” Roba’s chief of staff, David Ohito, was quoted by The Star.

This reportedly left the DP’s camp still searching for a preferred candidate by as late as Sunday evening.

The President is believed to have thrown his weight behind the Kakamega chief when he met some governors last Tuesday in Mombasa. He is said to have been impressed by Oparanya’s tenure at the helm of CoG.

Last year, Oparanya was voted unanimously as the CoG Chairman against six contestants namely: Anne Waiguru (Kirinyaga County), Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu County), Jackson Mandago (Uasin Gishu County), Salim Mvurya (Kwale County) and Josphat Nanok (Turkana).


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  • Your Comment : I have now believed that we do not have an independent electoral and boundaries commission , instead we have a congregation of greedy individuals out to misuse Kenyans and bring chaos to our country. #Remove them. #clean the top leadership.

  • Congratulations to Governor Mutua,you really deserve to lead in the best performing governors,,, those ranked last should be dealt with accordingly for misappropriating public funds

  • Raila was the hunter now the hunted... how do trust a hyena like Uhuru.. You both greedy... you dug your grave lie in it... What handshake.. Crap...

  • Babu aje zake,handshake is for all Kenyans, and Kibra believe in handshake, there4, Uhuru And Raila should have different candidates and whoever Will go through Will be thé product of handshake

  • Hehehe, supporting somebody was not an agreement in the handshake my friends!! Remember Raila caused many to die during the era of maandamano hence Uhuru devised a method how to tame this power hungry man!! Mariga must win

  • Your Raila and uhuru come from different political party,. Everyone is free to handle his party issues and i salute the president for supporting mariga being the jubilee candidate. Raila is also supporting the odm candidate and no one is against that. Some people are taking handshake as political party while it's not. Please mr mp style up.

  • Babu wacha kiherehere or baba will tie u the same tree kidero and obado were rope tied when the latters looked threatening the leadership of baba in nyanza

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