Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has defended his 2022 presidential ambitions, saying it should not split the Luhya community unity.
The ODM Deputy Party Leader who seeks the party's ticket for the country's top job, said ''competition for political power is healthy."
Oparanya was addressing mourners at the home of the Kakamega County Assembly clerk Patrick Wafula Kamwessar in Tongaren, Bungoma County, following the death of his father, the late John Kamwessar, 87.
Citing presidential ambitions of ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula, Oparanya urged the Luhya community to give their leaders a chance to chart the way forward in national politics, particularly the 2022 presidential race.
"There is nothing wrong for Hon. Mudavadi, Hon. Wetangula and H.E. Oparanya pursuing their individual political ambitions," said the two-time governor, adding that: "It is the responsibility of the people to decide who will be their presidential flag bearer come 2022."
Mudavadi and Wetangula, who are now seen as Luhya top political leaders, pledged to work together and fold their parties into one, and produce one presidential candidate in 2022, from the Luhya community.
Oparanya's entry into the race is therefore seen as hindrance to Luhya unity and would split Luhya votes, even as he defended his move on Saturday.
Flanked by Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, a staunch ally of Wetangula, Oparanya said: "Competition among the leaders does not amount to enmity."