Governor Orengo Snubbed in State House Talks as Siaya MPs Meet Ruto Separately

Governor James Orengo is navigating a complex political landscape as tensions rise between him and other elected leaders from Siaya County over engagement with President William Ruto's administration. 

The immediate catalyst is a postponed State House meeting intended to address key development priorities for the region, a meeting Governor Orengo initially sought to lead but was subsequently bypassed for, reportedly due to his vocal criticisms of the national government. Orengo, a prominent figure within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), has consistently advocated for equitable distribution of national development projects, asserting they are an inherent right of all counties, not favours granted at the discretion of the presidency. 

This stance has created friction with some Siaya leaders who favour a more conciliatory approach to securing government support for the region. In a letter dated April 17, Orengo formally requested a consultative meeting with President Ruto to discuss critical development initiatives for Siaya County, emphasising the necessity of national and county government collaboration to drive socio-economic progress. However, sources suggest that Orengo's repeated public criticism of the Ruto administration resulted in the rejection of his direct request.

This perceived snub prompted Siaya Members of Parliament (MPs) to organise an independent engagement with the President, effectively circumventing the Governor's office. A meeting convened in Nairobi on Sunday, overseen by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi and attended by a majority of Siaya MPs, prioritised projects for discussion with the President. These efforts were coordinated directly with State House officials. Although initially scheduled for Tuesday, the meeting was postponed, reportedly following Orengo’s intervention through ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, who participated in the Sunday gathering, has refuted claims of deliberate isolation, clarifying that Orengo's absence was due to overseas travel. He emphasises that the discussions centred on development matters, not political manoeuvring. Nonetheless, the situation has fueled perceptions of a deepening divide between Orengo and his fellow leaders.

The Governor's predicament is exacerbated by his criticism of a broad-based collaborative arrangement between the ODM and Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA). During the burial of Raila Odinga's bodyguard, Orengo delivered a fiery address, cautioning against excessive praise of the President, reiterating his stance that development allocations should be a right, not a political favour.

These remarks triggered sharp responses from within the ODM ranks. Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga challenged Orengo to resign from the party if he opposed its cooperation with the government. Oginga accused Orengo of undermining the party’s collective decisions, suggesting that dissenting voices should be voiced externally.

National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi echoed these sentiments, urging the region to disregard Orengo’s criticisms. He asserted that advocates of the broad-based government were aligned with Raila Odinga’s vision and dismissed Orengo's opposition as inconsequential. Similarly, Energy CS Wandayi characterised Orengo’s leadership style as “embarrassing,” highlighting the widening gap between the Governor and his political allies.