Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs, Wycliffe Oparanya, has urged voters in Western Kenya to avoid supporting politicians who rely on handouts during elections. He warned that this practice has entrenched poverty and resulted in ineffective leadership in the region.
Speaking at a consultative meeting with Shirikiana Sacco members held on August 1, 2026, at Mbale Boys High School and Enyaita ACK Church in Luanda, Oparanya highlighted the negative impact of vote-buying on the region's development.
Handouts Fuel Poverty and Poor Leadership
Oparanya stated that Western Kenya, despite being the country's second largest population bloc after Central Kenya, remains underdeveloped largely due to voters exchanging their votes for handouts. He said this culture has placed the region second highest in poverty levels after North Eastern Kenya.
"The culture of voting in politicians because of the amount of handouts they dish out during elections has made the region lead in the poverty index after North Eastern," he said. "Because of handouts, you elect bad leaders who cannot champion the development and empowerment of their people. This culture of people begging for handouts should stop. Let us ask for big things that will empower you and your family."
Focus on Empowerment Initiatives
The CS urged residents to embrace government empowerment programs instead of relying on handouts. He highlighted initiatives such as the coffee farming revival, the National Youth Opportunities Towards Advancement (NYOTA), and the Hustler Fund as opportunities to build sustainable livelihoods.
"Let us stop begging. Instead, make good use of empowerment initiatives being offered by President William Ruto's government to empower yourself," Oparanya asserted.
Call for Unity and Active Voter Registration
Oparanya encouraged Western Kenyans to register to vote in large numbers and to unite ahead of the 2027 general election. He emphasized that a united electorate could leverage its population size to gain political and economic advantages.
"The Western region is the second largest community in numbers after Central, but we have failed to translate the figures into a significant advantage to get what we want," he noted. "We must register in large numbers and be united and cast our votes in one basket."
Promoting Cooperatives and Savings
Addressing Sacco members, Oparanya encouraged embracing saving schemes and cooperative models as pathways to wealth creation. He assured that the government is committed to providing soft loans and training to support these efforts.
The consultative meeting also included discussions on strengthening cooperatives, expanding coffee farming, and improving access to government empowerment funds within Vihiga County. The event comes amid growing political mobilization in Western Kenya, as leaders seek to enhance the region's role in national politics.
