Wycliffe Oparanya Asks Kakamega Locals to Embrace Coffee Farming, Reduce Sugarcane Dependence
- Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has asked farmers in Kakamega to embrace diversification
- Oparanya, who served as the area governor for two terms, said it is time farmers reduce dependency on sugarcane farming by growing coffee
- He explained why coffee farming is the only hope for the locals, whose main source of income remains sugarcane
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For a long time, Kakamega locals have depended on sugarcane farming as their source of income, but Cooperatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya wants them to embrace a different crop.
Source: Facebook
According to Oparanya, who served as the Kakamega governor for two terms, there is a need for locals to also plant coffee.
Speaking in Ikolomani and Butere sub-counties, the CS said coffee farming is the only hope for locals to create wealth.
Why Oparanya wants farmers to plant coffee
He noted that the crop has the potential to generate double the profits that farmers have been making from planting sugarcane.
"My good people of Western, mainly from Kakamega, plant coffee because it has the wealth that we are all looking for. It is possible even to plant on your one-acre piece of land, and you will have a lot of income that may help you,” the former governor said.
Oparanya has been urging farmers to embrace coffee farming since he was appointed the Cooperatives CS. He noted that many farmers who have heeded his calls were now enjoying its fruits due to the financial support they are getting from the Coffee Cherry Advance Revolving Fund.
He also called on Members of Parliament from the region to help in sensitising members of the public on the benefits of planting coffee compared to the traditional crops that locals are used to.
Is Oparanya interested in Kakamega politics?
The former county boss also used the platform to distance himself from county politics. He noted that he no longer has interest in local politics as his focus is on what is happening nationally.
Source: Facebook
He asked the elected leaders, dragging him into the Kakamega politics, to focus on service delivery to the people.
"I am not here to play politics, and if it is a must, I will do the national level. I aim to hold top seats, but not small ones from Kakamega, so stop dragging me into small things that you can settle by yourself or wait until 2027," Oparanya said.
Oparanya is among the senior Orange Democratic (ODM) politicians that President William Ruto appointed to Cabinet positions when he sealed a political deal with Raila to form a broad-based government.
Who has Oparanya endorsed for Kakamega governor's seat?
Previously, TUKO.co.ke reported that Oparanya had abandoned Governor Fernandes Barasa and declared Ikolomani MP Bernard Shilani as his preferred candidate for the Kakamega gubernatorial seat.
The CS noted that Shinali is ripe for the county's top seat.
Several political leaders in the county are also said to be eying the seat, among them Senator Boni Khalwale, Kakamega County Woman MP Elsie Muhanda and former Senator Cleophas Malala.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
Joshua Cheloti (Editorial assistant) Joshua Cheloti is a multi-skilled journalist with over 5 years of experience in the media industry. He holds a Diploma in Journalism and Mass Communication and is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Media and Communication at Mount Kenya University. At TUKO, he's an editorial assistant. Before TUKO, he worked at Nairobi Review as an editorial writer, at Hope Media (Hope TV and Hope FM) as a correspondent in Eldoret, Hivisasa.com digital content editor and online writer, at Biblia Husema Broadcasting (BHB), Eldoret as Radio Presenter. Email: Joshua.cheloti@tuko.co.ke
Rasto Wamalwa Rasto Wamalwa is a political and current affairs journalist with over five years of experience in broadcast and print media. I have worked in various radio stations such as Bk Radio, Mitume Fm, Khendo Fm and Radio Matumaini. I also served as a news correspondent at The Kenya Times, Countysplash newspaper and Shahidi online news. I am based in Kakamega county.
