Cooperative and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya has refused to be drawn into the politics of “who will be President William Ruto’s Deputy” in 2027.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with TV47 on Monday, September 22 night, CS Oparanya said that his hands are full, dealing with mandates that his Cabinet docket come with, to even think about 2027 politics.

Oparanya insisted that being a CS in President William Ruto’s administration was the last thing he expected, as his Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition lost the 2022 Presidential Election, and he has to be greatful for his change of fortunes.

“I am comfortable at the moment, serving as a Cabinet Secretary. I was not expecting to be here because our coalition lost an election,” Oparanya answered when he was asked if it is something he will warm up to, or he anticipates.

And when TV47’s Abubakar Abdullahi asked him if he will turn down the offer if President Ruto picked him as his deputy, Oparanya said… “I am not excited about being a deputy to President Ruto. For those saying that I should be, that is there wish. Besides, 2027 is far, at the moment we should concentrate on delivering to Kenyans.”

He was also quick to point out that he is currently focused on delivering his mandate as a cabinet secretary, and that he is not involved in active politics. “At the moment I am serving in the Executive. When you are in the Executive there is very little involvement in party matters. However, we are occasionally invited by our party leader for some meetings just for updates or for advice on party matters. But active politics, we are not involved.”

The former Kakamega Governor also emphasised that being a member of the Executive, he only have one boss, who is President Ruto.

“When we come to party matters, we have our Party Leader Raila Odinga. So you must distinguished the two roles – Government and party matters. There is no equalness, William Ruto is the head of state.”