President William Ruto has nominated former Kakamega governor Wyckliffe Oparanya to join his cabinet. Oparanya has been designated as the Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs in a newly announced government lineup at State House. If confirmed, Oparanya will succeed Simon Kiprono Chelugui in this role.

Oparanya retired as Kakamega governor in 2022 after serving two terms, as stipulated by the Constitution. He also served as the chairperson of the Council of Governors from 2018 to 2021.

A prominent political figure from Western Kenya, Oparanya is one of the deputy party leaders of Raila Odinga's ODM, alongside former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho. He also chairs the National Coalition Executive Council and the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition party, led by Raila.


Oparanya is considered one of Kenya's most experienced public servants, having held roles as both minister and governor. He holds a PhD in Economics from the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania and is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) K.

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He has an extensive background in accounting and finance, with over 23 years of experience, including serving as a Senior Audit Manager at Ernst & Young from 1980 to 1995. He later joined Kenya Aerotech Co. Limited as Secretary to the Board and Group Finance Controller.

Oparanya entered politics in 2002 when he was elected as the Member of Parliament for Butere. He retained the seat in 2007 under the ODM party ticket and was appointed Minister of State for Planning, National Development, and Vision 2030 in the grand coalition government of Mwai Kibaki in 2008. In 2013, Oparanya was elected Governor of Kakamega with ODM and won re-election in 2017, serving until 2022.


Born in Butere in 1956, the 65-year-old Oparanya attended Mabole Primary School and Butere Boys High School for his O-levels, followed by Kisii High School for his A-levels. He earned a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting) degree from the University of Nairobi in 1980 and later completed a Master's in Business Administration (Finance) at the same institution in 2000.