Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has received a boost after the Kakamega council of elders said they will support his re-election in the forthcoming elections.
The elders, according to the Star, cited Oparanya’s leadership as the reason for their backing.
Chairman Josephat Sakwa who made the announcement in a statement on Friday last week after a consultative meeting at Golf Hotel, the county boss needs another chance to complete his projects, he spent most of his term putting in place structures for devolution.
Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale has also declared his interest in the seat. He recently joined Ford-Kenya while Oparanya is an ODM governor.
Other contestants include former Medical Services minister Amukowa Anangwe, businesswoman Marble Muruli and Retired Major Suleiman Sumba.
The elders at the same time want Khalwale to defer his candidature until 2022.
“To be governor you need to be an administrator, not a politician. This is the difference between Oparanya and his opponents; most of them are politicians,” he said as quoted by the Star.
Among the projects the elders said the governor had launched in the county are the construction of the teaching and referral hospital, income-generating initiatives, road, education and security projects.
Sakwa accused the Jubilee administration's efforts to frustrate the Oparanya's bid through court cases.
“We know Jubilee is desperate; they are employing all tricks in the book to frustrate Oparanya politically and create space for their candidate,” he said.
He was upbeat Oparanya will win and succeed Raila Odinga as ODM leader in 2022.