Kenya: Leader of Kenya's DCP Did Not Endorse Cabinet Minister Wycliffe Oparanya As Ruto's Running Mate

14 July 2026
Africa Check (Johannesburg)
By Grace Gichuhi

IN SHORT: A doctored video falsely shows Cleophas Malala endorsing Wycliffe Oparanya as Kenyan president William Ruto's preferred running mate for the 2027 election. The original footage shows Malala-backed Nairobi county senator Edwin Sifuna.

A video circulating on Facebook in Kenya appears to show Cleophas Malala endorsing Wycliffe Oparanya as Kenyan president William Ruto's deputy presidential candidate for the 2027 general elections.

Malala is the former secretary general of the United Democratic Alliance and Oparanya serves as cabinet secretary.

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In the video, Malala appears to be addressing a rally and is heard saying, in Kiswahili: "Sisi Waluhya sisi tumesema hatutaki urais lakini tunabook deputy president. Sisi tunasema William Ruto, wewe kama unapenda Waluhya na uko serious, wewe si unakuwa president, deputy president, I am proposing to you, Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya."

This translates as: "We, the Luhya people, have said we do not want the presidency, but we are reserving the deputy president's position. We are telling William Ruto that if you truly value the Luhya community and are serious about it, since you will be president, I am proposing Wycliffe Ambetsa Oparanya as your deputy president."

The Luhya are Kenya's second-largest ethnic community, with their votes coveted by parties eying the presidency.

The claim comes as political alliances continue to shift ahead of the 2027 election, in which Ruto is expected to seek a second and final term. Oparanya is a former governor of Kakamega county and a member of Ruto's cabinet. He is also a veteran member of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement. The ODM entered a controversial working arrangement with Ruto after the 2022 elections.

Malala, who also comes from Kakamega, was the county's senator and secretary general of the ruling UDA before being removed from the position in 2025.

So while both Malala and Oparanya are prominent Luhya politicians from Kakamega, they belong to different political camps and have often been rivals.

Malala is now the deputy party leader for the Democracy for the Citizens Party, led by former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.

This video has also been posted here, here, here, here, here and here. But did Malala make these remarks? We checked.

Doctored video

A reverse image search of key frames from the video led us to the original recording, showing that the clip has been manipulated. In the original speech, Malala does not endorse Oparanya or refer to president Ruto.

Instead, he says:

Kalonzo Musyoka amesema anataka kuwa Rais wa Jamhuri ya Kenya ni sawa, Rigathi Gachagua amesema anataka kuwa rais wa Jamhuri ya Kenya, ni sawa, Matiang'i amesema anataka kuwa rais wa Kenya, ni sawa, sisi Waluhya, sisi tumesema hatutaki urais lakini tumebook deputy president. So wewe Kalonzo, Gachagua, Matiang'i mkae chini mchague mtu mmoja, wale ambao wanakosa wakuje wapange laini nyuma yetu na kwa united opposition I am proposing today we are fronting our son Edwin Sifuna awe deputy president ...

This translates to him saying that opposition leaders Kalonzo Musyoka, Gachagua and Fred Matiang'i should agree on a single presidential candidate, with the rest supporting that candidate. He then proposes Nairobi senator Edwin Sifuna as deputy president for a united opposition.

The speech was made in the context of opposition coalition talks ahead of Kenya's 2027 general election, not in support of Ruto or his government.

The viral video replaces the original audio with fabricated remarks, creating the false impression that Malala endorsed Oparanya as Ruto's preferred running mate.

The claim is false.

Read the original story, with links and other resources.
Africa Check is a non-partisan organisation which promotes accuracy in public debate and in the media. X @AfricaCheck and www.africacheck.org

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