Siaya County Governor James Aggrey Orengo is a man under siege, caught in the whirlwinds of political alliance shifts and public expectations.
He is standing where calm meets chaos.
Orengo’s recent remarks at the funeral event of the late George Oduor, Raila Odinga’s long-serving bodyguard, continue to raise political backlash.
In a no-holds-barred speech directed at the attentive President William Ruto and ODM leader Raila Odinga, Orengo expressed his displeasure at the broad-based government.
“We can’t keep the ‘praise-worship choir’ for the current government all the time. If left unchecked, this country will deteriorate,” he said of the pact signed between the ruling UDA and his ODM party.
On Wednesday, 15th April, the Ramogi Professional Caucus (RPC) led the onslaught by calling on the first-term governor to publicly apologise.
“Failure to which we will bring the war to your doorstep by mobilizing Siaya Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) to censure or impeach you,” they warned.
The Joshua Nyamori-chaired Nyanza-based group of professionals reaffirmed their position that the Luo Community are united and fully supports the broad-based government.
Kisumu Senator Prof. Tom Ojienda waded in by castigating the political stance taken by his fellow senior counsel.Governor Orengo and Edwin Sifuna’s (ODM Sec-Gen) comments went overboard. You don’t speak to a President like that when he comes to condole with you,” he said during a national TV interview on Thursday, April 17.
“Governor Orengo and Edwin Sifuna’s (ODM Sec-Gen) comments went overboard. You don’t speak to a President like that when he comes to condole with you,” he said during a national TV interview on Thursday, April 17.
He reiterated that ODM is in government to stay and they will continue to serve the electorate after winning in the 2027 polls.
Sifuna, who also doubles up as Nairobi Senator, roundly criticised the Ruto-led administration on their ‘mishandling’ of Butere Girls High School play ‘Echoes Of War.’
“In your attempts to silence the students, you’re exposing your own insecurities,” he stated.
The latest to join the fray is Kisumu Youth led by Kondele Ward Aspirant Obungu Owich after they were irked by Governor Orengo’s remarks.
“He should cease from national politics and concentrate on developing Siaya County. The oversight role of the Kenya Kwanza government should be left for MCAs, MPs and even Senators,” they stated.
A broad-based government, they noted, is an idea whose time has come.
“It has brought peace among the youth and there’s free movement of people out and inside the country.”
The firebrand Orengo further warned that the working agreement between the two parties will associate ODM with the ‘failures of Ruto’s government.’
Orengo,74, has been in the political limelight since his role as the University of Nairobi student leader in 1973 during the late President Jomo Kenyatta era.
He has navigated through the political ranks and served as Ugenya MP (1981, aged 29, 1992-97, 97-2002, and 2007-2013).
Orengo became Lands Minister (during the coalition government (2008-2013)), Siaya Senator (2013-2017), and presently Siaya County boss (2022).
In the late 2000s, he formed Muungano wa Mageuzi (Movement for Change) to oppose President Moi’s dictatorship.
Orengo vied for the presidency and lost through the Social Democratic Party (SDP). He finished fourth after garnering 0.4 percent of the total votes in 2002.
He had fallen out with Raila Odinga.
Other anti-broad-based government crusaders include Hon. Babu Owino, the Embakasi East MP
Alego-Usonga MP Hon. Samuel Atandi termed Orengo’s sentiments retrogressive, and of someone keen on getting the Luo community out of government.
“We are in government, supporting it inside and outside. I want to tell Governor Orengo that Luos weren’t created to stay in the opposition,” Atandi, who was recently elected Parliamentary Budget and Appropriation Committee Chair, said on April 15, on the floor of the House.
Reports by Rolex Omondi and Geoffrey Kasera
