Biketi: I respect Oparanya's other wives but I also deserve love and happiness

Mary Biketi. [Courtesy] Love, like a cough, cannot be hidden. Former Kakamega Governor and ODM Deputy Party Leader Wycliffe Oparanya has been trending on social media on account of his love affair with Mary Biketi. Theirs was a private affair until someone leaked their photos on social media. Last year, a picture of him and another woman appeared on social media but the former governor said it had been photoshopped. The question now is; what is the motivation behind the postings on social media? The first time the photos first emerged online, many thought that the woman had fallen out with Oparanya and had decided to spill the beans. To many, Oparanya who hails from Mabole village, Butere Constituency, Kakamega County, is a polygamous man with two wives Priscilla Oparanya and Caroline Oparanya. Since the photos emerged on social media, questions abound whether Biketi is the former governor's third wife or if theirs is a clandestine romantic relationship? Are the postings deliberate or the two are victims of cybercrime? This claim also emerged among netizens reacting to the viral photos and videos that emerged online. Biketi later shared a video on her social media page account 'to set the record straight'. In the video, Oparanya wondered why someone would leak them to the public. Mary Biketi seen hand in hand with Oparanya. [Courtesy, Instagram] "Those are genuine photos. I don't know why someone would waste time trying to circulate them. It's unfortunate whoever took the photos leaked to the press," said Oparanya. The two-term former governor said he was struggling to understand the interest people have in the photos, saying they are decent. Oparanya said he has a family that needs his protection, stating that any fake news is hurting them. "I have a big family to protect so those sending out fake news should stop. Here I am, I am able to speak, I have no problem. I have been in Mombasa for a few days meeting my people from my own community," he added. Oparanya also refuted claims that he had been hospitalised due to the leaked photos. However, after the photos and a video of the duo went viral and elicited mixed reactions, Biketi told a reporter with an online local media that the photos had been leaked. Oparanya and Biketi were in matching white attires and had just landed at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport on Monday during her media interview. She signalled Oparanya to stop and talk to the reporter. He stopped briefly then walked away as Biketi waited to field questions and set the record straight. "I did not leak the photos but someone else did, it feels totally bad but there is nothing much I can do," said Biketi. She went on: "At the same time, I have been getting positive comments and I just thank God and the people out there for the encouragement and all other things." Biketi said she is not embarrassed about the photos, acknowledging the fact that Oparanya is a polygamous man. She said she was not out to destroy the former governor's marriage. "I am not afraid, he is a polygamous man and I respect the other wives," said Biketi. "No one has attacked me, those photos were leaked, I love privacy and I wouldn't want to expose him, but because they are there already out, there is nothing much I can say," she added. On whether she is in a clandestine relationship, Biketi said she does not need to explain to people what kind of a relationship she has with the former governor. "I don't need to explain much. I already know myself and the kind of relationship I'm in. Those who want to talk they will definitely talk even after clarifying," she said. Biketi said she is not afraid of the backlash towards her following the leaked photos. She added that they were deliberating taking legal action against the person responsible for the leakage, saying the action has affected their families. "It has caused a lot of damage, my parents are there, my family is there, same with his political life and his wives and kids but we will get over it," said Biketi. On whether she is known to other wives or they have met her and had any discussion with them or not Biketi requested not to talk about them. Biketi also clarified that she is not a daughter to the former governor as some quarters were insinuating. "Ooh really! Ok, I call him Daddy so maybe, yeah," she stated. Biketi also declined to reveal how long they have been in a romantic relationship stating that she cannot reveal since it is private. However seven years ago while he was serving his second and last term as Kakamega governor, Oparanya at one time said that he could not be a bishop due to his polygamous status and declared that he was satisfied with his two wives and there was no vacancy for another wife, dismissing claims that he was married to ten women. "Kwani mimi ni punda wa kuoa bibi kumi (am I a donkey to marry 10 wives)?" posed Oparanya. He assured residents that he was satisfied with his two wives and advised women who had 'hopes' of getting hitched to him that there was 'no vacancy.' "There is no vacancy for another wife. Some ladies parade themselves on streets to tempt me, but that chapter is closed for me," declared Oparanya. Until the emergence of Biketi, Oparanya has lived a low-key life with his two wives. The peaceful coexistence between Priscilla and Caroline served crucial lessons to others living in polygamous marriages. Wycliffe Oparanya accompanied by his two wives to the polling station at Emabole primary school, Butere in Kakamega county on August 8, 2017. [BENJAMIN SAKWA] They were the known 'first ladies' of Oparanya who served as the Kakamega Governor for ten years. Four years ago former Nairobi Governor Mike Sonko launched an online petition that stirred mixed reactions where he alleged that three governors and 13 MPs by then were among prominent persons accused of abandoning children sired in secret love affairs. Sonko stirred controversy when he unveiled a public platform, urging women who had secret children with senior public figures to come forward and name and shame the alleged culprits. The then-governor later claimed to have received details against three governors, eight members of the National Assembly, and five senators. Defending himself against his critics, Sonko alleged that politicians had developed a "very bad habit of courting young girls and bolting after putting them in the family way". He vowed to expose the leaders and gave out his two personal mobile phone numbers, asking women with children neglected by leaders to send the "full names, positions of the VIPs and any photos or videos of those happy moments". This despite the fact that Sonko has been associated with several women, including a University of Nairobi student leader, a nominated City MCA and a married Nairobi female politician.

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