Siaya Governor James Orengo on Saturday revealed that he was warned against picking his Deputy William Oduol as running mate ahead of the August 2022 gubernatorial election.
This was after a revelation by Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga during a funeral in Nyabege village in Bondo constituency on Saturday.
“Jim (James Orengo), you know that I warned you against picking Oduol as your running mate because he (Oduol) is a small child who is not very intelligent – and with the tendency of wanting to outshine his elders,” Oburu said.
“I told you that he would subject you to unhealthy competition. It did not last long and the competition began.”
Orengo, who was also at the funeral, confirmed Oburu’s claims—his first comment on the matter since the impeachment of Oduol by the county assembly on Thursday.
“It is true that Oburu warned me but it was (Alego Usonga MP Samuel) Atandi Meli who urged me to help Oduol,” Orengo said.
"Atandi pitched for Oduol to occupy the slot saying he (Oduol) needed help after unsuccessfully running for political seats. It was Atandi’s persuasion that saw me pick Oduol, Orengo explained.
“I thank you, Oburu, for your advice. Nonetheless, I want to assure all of you, that the noise that you are hearing in Siaya has not deterred me from performing my duties and I am working for the people of Siaya.”
Atandi also confirmed that it's true that he took Oduol to Orengo.
Before accepting the running mate slot, Oduol had declared interest in the Alego Usonga parliamentary seat and was expected to run against Atandi.
On June 8, 2023, all 42 Siaya County Assembly members voted to kick out Oduol from office over alleged misconduct, misuse of public resources and violation of the constitution and other laws.
The matter will be coming up in the Senate for the senators to endorse or trash the county assembly resolution.
Oduol has been quoted by the press saying he trusts that the Senate will exonerate him and he will emerge triumphant at the end of it all.
Even so, Oburu said that senators elected on Oduol’s ODM party will vote to take him home.
Oburu noted that Oduol can only survive if the senators of the ruling United Democratic Alliance decide to exonerate him.
“We will be very keen to see how far he can go in politics with that UDA label on his face because here we are ODM body and soul,” Oburu said.
The Siaya senator has urged Oduol to resign instead of “making noise at the expense of service delivery” as he deserves to go home.
Oburu praised the MCAs for having “done a good job by impeaching Oduol."