Over 50 Goons Storm CS Oparanya's Girlfriend Mary Biketi's Event
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants, alleged to be from a nearby informal settlement on the outskirts of Kitale town, stormed the venue and aggressively demanded money from Biketi.
Marvin Chege 
Mary Biketi, the girlfriend of the current Cooperative Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, has condemned the chaos that erupted at the Kitale museum when a modelling competition she conceived was abruptly and violently cut short when more than 50 armed youths stormed the venue.
The sudden attack halted what was meant to be a platform for celebrating emerging local talent. The chaos erupted just after Biketi, founder of the Mary Biketi Foundation, had settled into her seat, right before the young models were about to take the stage.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants, alleged to be from a nearby informal settlement on the outskirts of Kitale town, stormed the venue and aggressively demanded money from Biketi.
Photo of former Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Mary Biketi. /MARY BIKETI
"They came in shouting 'hatujapangwa', they hadn't been organised. They first went for Kobi, and then Jerry, who was handling security affairs. Everyone else just scattered, trying to get away," recounted a shaken eyewitness.
In the chaos that followed, Biketi’s vehicle was damaged, with its rear window shattered. Sadly, two young female models sustained minor injuries during the disturbance, and their phones were reportedly stolen.
Security teams acted quickly to escort Biketi, the foundation’s founder, away from the escalating situation. She and other witnesses have since given statements to officers at the Kitale Police Headquarters.
"The first time I was here, I did something for the elderly, and this time around, I thought I would do something for the youth, then this happened. We were going on with our program when the goons came in...they started beating us, robbing us, and even broke vehicles," Biketi revealed.
Condemning the incident, Biketi stressed that she has no ties to any political party and was solely focused on making a positive impact in the community.
“We are not in any political party. We are just empowering the youth, women and vulnerable groups in the society,” she told journalists after recording a statement with the police.
Biketi shared that the purpose of the competition was to discover and mentor young ambassadors to help advance the foundation’s humanitarian mission.
Peninah Makambi, the foundation’s Coordinator, backed Biketi’s statement, condemning the attack as “barbaric” and stressing the importance of holding those responsible to account.
"We demand an immediate and thorough investigation, and all those involved must be brought to justice," Makambi asserted.
Biketi is no stranger to the public eye in Kenya, having gained attention after her relationship with former Kakamega Governor Oparanya became public knowledge. In an earlier interview, Oparanya confirmed the relationship and mentioned that both of his wives were aware and had no objections.
"I have a girlfriend, and my wives know her; they have no problem with it. We live peacefully and harmoniously," Oparanya told the Art of Living show in July 2024.
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