Wycliffe Oparanya

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Wycliffe Oparanya
Wycliffe Oparanya UNDP HQ 2010.jpg
Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs
Incumbent
Assumed office
24 July 2024
Children3
Education
  • BSc Commerce
  • MSc Business Administration
Alma mater University of Nairobi
Occupation Politician
Profession Accountant

Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya (born 25 March 1956) is a Kenyan politician who is the current Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs. He previously served as the governor of Kakamega County from 2013 to 2022.

Contents

He was elected on 4 March 2013 and became the first governor of Kakamega County following promulgation of the Constitution of Kenya in 2010. Subsequently, in August 2017, he was reelected for his second term as governor. He is, therefore, the pioneer Governor of Kakamega County under the devolved system of governance in Kenya that established 47 counties.

He was previously Minister of State for Planning, National Development and Vision 2030 in the Kibaki Administration. He was appointed on 14 January 2019 as the Council of Governors of Kenya chairperson. [1] Wycliffe Oparanya was also the ODM Party Deputy Party Leader. [2]

Personal life

Oparanya is married to two wives, Caroline Oparanya and Caroline Oparanya. [3]

Career

Business

Oparanya has 23 years experience in local and international Finance Management, Audit and Business Consultancy. [4]

Politics

Parliament

He belongs to the Orange Democratic Movement and represented Butere Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya since the 2007 Kenyan parliamentary election. [5]

Cabinet

Ministry of Planning

Oparanya was among ministers appointed by secondment of Prime Minister Raila Odinga from The Orange Democratic Movement party after the prime minister signed the National Accord Act to form a coalition government with the late President Kibaki after the disputed 2007 elections. [6]

Ministry of Co operatives

Appointed minister for SME by President Ruto

Controversy

Corruption allegations

In 2023 Oparanya was under investigation for embezzlement of Ksh.1.3 billion which occurred during his two-term tenure as Kakamega County Governor, and his assets got frozen. [7] He denied the allegations, terming them as politically instigated. [8] The case is still ongoing at the High Court of Kenya after it nullified its withdrawal by the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. [9]

References

  1. ↑ "Wycliffe Oparanya, Wa Iria new Council of Governors bosses". Daily Nation. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  2. ↑ "Even ODM Deputy Party Leader, WYCLIFFE OPARANYA, now agrees RUTO may beat RAILA badly in the 2022 presidential contest – Look!". ENews Kenya. Retrieved 23 October 2021.
  3. ↑ "Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya Biography, Age, Wives, Family, Political Career, and Net Worth". KenyaMoves. 29 January 2025. Retrieved 18 October 2025.
  4. ↑ "The Governor County Government of Kakamega". Kakamega County Government. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  5. ↑ Members Of The 10th Parliament Members Of The 10th Parliament at the Wayback Machine (archived 16 June 2008). Parliament of Kenya|accessdate= 19 June 2008
  6. ↑ "The Governor County Government of Kakamega". Kakamega County Government. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
  7. ↑ "Oparanya assets frozen over 1.3 billion corruption scandal". KenyaInsights. 20 November 2023.
  8. ↑ "Oparanya Clarifies Corruption Case Cited by EACC". Kenya Times. 4 August 2024.
  9. ↑ "Court nullifies ODPP withdrawal of corruption charges against Oparanya". KahawaTungu. 16 September 2025. Retrieved 10 October 2025.
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