More Raila allies pile pressure on Orengo over stance on Ruto-Raila deal

The political heat on Siaya Governor James Orengo has gone up a notch after more allies of ODM leader Raila Odinga escalated pressure on the county boss.

The mounting push on Orengo, once a loyal Raila supporter, is coming from within the ODM ranks, with prominent leaders openly questioning his ‘confrontational’ political style.   

The situation signals Orengo’s isolation and deepening cracks within the opposition party.

Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi fired the latest salvo, calling the politician ‘an embarrassment’ due to his aggressive stance against the current government.   

Wandayi accused Orengo’s administration of failing the people of Siaya, particularly in the provision of essential services, including stocking medicine in local health facilities.   

“What is happening in Siaya today is a big embarrassment. As Cabinet Secretary, I travel to all these counties, but Siaya is not only an embarrassment to us but is indeed something extremely shameful,” Wandayi said on Thursday.

Wandayi, who until last year was the elected MP for Ugunja, said Orengo has failed to pay salaries to community health workers and employ Early Childhood Development Education teachers.

“Siaya county has become the laughing stock among other counties in this country,” the CS said.

“I want to ask the governor to focus on service delivery to the people of Siaya.”

Wandayi was speaking at an event in Upanda village of Sigomre, Ugunja constituency.

Orengo, a veteran lawyer and former senator, has maintained a defiant tone, accusing some of his critics of being sycophants to the Ruto administration in exchange for development projects. 

This stance has seen the governor's inner circle shrink by the day.

Other Raila allies, including his elder brother Oburu Oginga and Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi, have voiced concerns in recent weeks, criticising the governor’s antagonistic politics at a time when the region has engaged with the government. 

Last week, Oburu criticised Orengo over his recent remarks against the broad-based government formation, challenging him to leave the ODM if he was dissatisfied.   

Oburu reminded the governor that the party’s decision to engage with the government was a collective resolution, not an individual choice.   

“When my governor stands up and says he is annoyed – I don’t know with whom – and claims he just wants to speak the truth, I ask myself: what truth?” Oburu posed.

He emphasised that the 10-point agreement signed between ODM and Kenya Kwanza was reached after extensive consultations within the party, stating that no member had the right to criticise it.

“Those who think this broad-based government is wrong are ‘vomiting’ on us from within. Why don’t they step outside and ‘vomit’ there?” he said.

Oburu spoke last Sunday during an interdenominational church service in Suna East, Migori, attended by President William Ruto, who was on a three-day development tour of the county.   

Atandi, who was also present, took a swipe at Orengo. 

“Some leaders from this community are promising that they want to go back to jail or they want to go back to the streets. I want to tell those leaders that some of them are so advanced in age that if they go back to jail, they will not come out,” Atandi said.

 “Jail is not a comfortable place. Jail is like hell. If you want to go to hell… you may not come out,” he added.

During a funeral service in Siaya on April 12, Orengo declared that he would not join what he termed the “praise-singing bandwagon” for the current administration.   

“I cannot be a praise-singer. We fought for a democratic constitution where people should speak freely. I urge Kenyans to tell their leaders the truth. This country will go to the dogs again if the kind of language we hear continues.”

Instant Analysis

Governor James Orengo is increasingly isolated as local leaders distance themselves from the experienced politician. He has maintained a defiant tone, accusing some of his critics of being sycophants to the Ruto administration in exchange for development projects.