Battle Lines Are Drawn As Outgoing CoG Chair Governor Oparanya Seeks Re-election Bid

Monday, January 20, 2020

The Council of Governors (CoG) convenes a full council meeting today Monday, 20th January.

The meeting will take place at Movenpick Hotel, Westlands, Nairobi. The elected executive leadership will be unveiled at 2.00pm.

During the meeting, elections will be held to replace Chair Wyclife Ambetsa Oparanya of Kakamega whose term has come to an end.

Governor Oparanya is eligible for a re election. However, the battle lines are drawn as heavyweights seek the position. Those eyeing the seat include Murang’a’s Mwangi wa Iria and Mandera’s Ali Roba.

Former Bomet governor Isaac Rutto, was the first chairman of the Council of Governors.

Rutto was elected in April 2013 and served for two terms until 2015.

He lost the Bomet gubernatorial seat in the 2017 polls to Jubilee’s Joyce Laboso. 

Former Meru governor.Peter Munya, took over the CoG chair in May 2015 from Rutto.
Munya also served for two terms until 2017 when he lost his Meru seat to Kiraitu Murungi. 

Turkana governor Josphat Nanok, was elected the CoG chairman in May 2017 to succeed Munya. Nanok served the office until the general election was held in August 2017. After the polls, there was a plot by the Jubilee Party to install Kwale Governor Salim Mvurya to take over from Nanok. 

However, the move did not materialise, as a deal was brokered amongst governors to have Nanok serve for a final term. 

The influential Kakamega governor, Wycliffe Oparanya, who is also the deputy party leader of the ODM and a key member of party leader Raila Odinga’s inner circle was elected last year January to take over from Nanok who had completed his mandatory two terms.

He is defending his seat and banks on his cordial ties with governors across the political divide to retain his position.