Mr Oparanya reportedly told the senator if he presses on with his presidential bid he should not launch it in Kakamega.
The development came hours after Mr Wetang'ula postponed the launch of his presidential bid, which was to be held at Muliro Gardens in Kakamega County.
During the tense meeting that lasted two hours, Oparanya reportedly told Wetang'ula to his face that he will not support him for the presidency and asked him to support the former prime minister.
Security aides to the leaders were under strict instructions not to allow anyone into the venue. Sources said pleas from both Wetang'ula and Trans Nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba to convince Oparanya to change his mind were futile.
"My brother, I'm not opposed to your presidential bid, but let us support Mr Raila for another time as we organise our people in the western region," Oparanya told Wetang'ula.
Wetang'ula and Oparanya drove to the club at different times and were received by Mr Khaemba before they walked into a room for the meeting. At one time, there was a bitter exchange of words between Wetangula's aide and an MCA who wanted to force his way into the meeting.
"This is a private meeting and we have instructions not to allow anybody in," the aide told the MCA.
Wetang'ula later walked out of the meeting and left in a convoy but Oparanya and Khaemba chatted briefly before leaving. Oparanya later addressed Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) delegates at Kenya Ministries Teaching Institute, where he vowed to support Raila in 2017.
He told the delegates that he had asked Wetang'ula to shelve his presidential ambitions and support the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy leader.
"We met with Wetang'ula and I have told him the people of Kakamega and I will support Raila in 2017. I also told him to look for a different location to launch his presidential bid and not Kakamega," he said.
The governor said ODM, unlike Ford Kenya, is strong in Western region particularly in Kakamega, adding that it won 40 county assembly seats out of a possible 60.
"It is an insult for the Ford Kenya leader to launch his presidential bid in Kakamega, which is an ODM stronghold and I will not let politicians dictate and impose leaders on the people," Oparanya said. He said Raila has the political strength to wrestle Jubilee leadership from power.
He said there will be no zoning in CORD, adding that affiliate parties will field their candidates to strengthen the coalition.
"If there will be zoning then parties affiliated to CORD will conduct their preliminaries before a joint nomination," he argued. Wetang'ula's troops led by Kimininini MP Chris Wamalwa and his Kwanza counterpart Ferdinand Wanyonyi, however, accused Oparanya of disrespect, saying he was "out to ruin Wetang'ula's political ambitions".
The MPs said Wetangula's presidential bid will be launched in Kakemega as planned, adding that the event has the blessings of the Luhya Council of elders.
"The action by Oparanya to oppose the launch is a sign of disrespect. The governor should know that Wetang'ula is a co-principal in the opposition and deserves respect," Mr Wamalwa said
Sources – Standard Media
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