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On Sunday, he told the Committee on Appointments that he has never been involved in corruption and if approved, the Cooperatives' money will be safe in his hands.
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He however stated that he went to the Integrity Centre to collect his children's phones which he alleged had been taken by people who identified themselves as EACC detectives.
Image: EZEKIEL AMING'A
Cooperatives and MSMEs Cabinet Secretary nominee Wycliffe Oparanya has claimed that the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Committee has never called him to write a statement.
This is regarding the alleged corruption against him.
On Sunday, he told the Committee on Appointments that he has never been involved in corruption and if approved, the Cooperatives' money will be safe in his hands.
He however stated that he went to the Integrity Centre to collect his children's phones which he alleged had been taken by people who identified themselves as EACC detectives.
"While there, I did not record any statement. They gave me the phones after hours," he alleged.
"Nobody has come to me to write a statement. I have never been given a chance to tell my story."
Oparanya also claimed the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution has never contacted him on any case or allegations.
He said he served diligently for 10 years, being a Minister in five years, adding that he has had audit reports with none pointing out to him as a person of interest.
He claimed that the EACC was hunting him down because of his involvement in the August 2023 Azimio demonstrations.
Oparanya claimed when officers went to his home, they asked him about his relationship with Azimio leader Raila Odinga, if he (Oparanya) kept guns in his house and where he got the money to fund demos.
He stated they did not ask him anything to do with the allegations against him.
Oparanya said the people introduced themselves as EACC officers and some were in civilian clothes.
"Nobody has come to take a statement from me. I don't know what I'm being accused of because I'm also seeing them in the papers," he claimed.
Oparanya said the money that was frozen after EACC obtained the orders, was not in his account but with the County Providence Fund (CPF) where he was buying a property.
He stated that CPF was called by the EACC to write a statement, and in turn, alerted him.
This, he said, is when he became aware that EACC was following his money.
Oparanya said the money was from his accounts from someone who was buying a house from him.
Answering to leader of the Minority Junet Mohamed, he said he applied for conservatory orders in Kakamega because his family was being harassed and he got scared.
In a statement on Friday, the EACC stated that Oparanya still has an outstanding corruption case despite the DPP having withdrawn earlier recommendations to have him prosecuted.
The clarification came after Oparanya, through his lawyers Marende and Nyaundi Advocates wrote to Parliament accusing the EACC of malice.
The anti-graft body said that it did not agree with the DPP's decision to withdraw his earlier approval to have the former governor charged.
"The Commission distances itself from these accusations by Oparanya’s lawyer Ken Nyaundi and clarifies that while it is true that on July 25, 2024, the ODPP delivered to the Commission a letter dated July 8, 2024, withdrawing the DPP’s decision of December 18, 2023, that had granted EACC consent to charge Oparanya, the Commission did not accept the DPP’s u-turn on the matter," EACC stated.
"Instead, the Commission wrote back to the DPP reiterating its earlier recommendation to charge all suspects, including Wycliffe Oparanya."
Oparanya in his letter said that it was surprising that whilst the EACC received the DPP’s communication on July 8, 2024, it still ignored the communication and went ahead and wrote to Parliament on July 29, 2024.
"There cannot be greater manifest malice," he said.
Oparanya's lawyers added that it is noteworthy that on the strength of the DPP's letter and upon receipt of the same, the EACC should recognise that any claims of wrongdoing on the part of the former governor are rested and declined.
"We are instructed to inform you that neither investigation nor charges are pending against Hon Oparanya to merit any well-intentioned complaint against him. It is noteworthy that on the strength of the DPP's letter and upon receipt of the same, the EACC should recognise that any claims of wrongdoing on the part of Hon Oparanya are rested and declined," the law firm told Parliament.