By Anderson Ojwang
A new political realignment could be in the offing in Siaya County after the Cabinet Secretary for Energy, Opiyo Wandayi, recently hosted all the elected leaders from Siaya.
However, conspicuously absent was Siaya Governor Mr James Orengo, who is an ardent critic of the broad-based government and is also opposed to any possible alliance between the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and President William Ruto’s UDA party.
The delegation to Wandayi’s office was led by Siaya Senator Dr Oburu Odinga, who enjoys a love-hate relationship with Orengo following their 2013 battle over the senatorial seat.
Wandayi, on his X handle (formerly Twitter), wrote: “Happy to host MPs from Siaya County who called on me to discuss last-mile electrification and strategies to expand electricity connectivity in their constituencies.”
Alego MP Sam Atandi also posted on his X handle: “Siaya leaders meeting Energy and Petroleum Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi over the rural electrification programme in the county.”
The MPs included Orengo’s main ally in the county, Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), and his former allies-turned-foes, Sam Atandi (Alego) and Elisha Odhiambo (Gem). Others were David Ochieng (Ugenya), Dr Christine Ombaka (Women’s Representative), and Gedion Ochanda (Bondo).
Sources revealed to the writer that Orengo was invited to the meeting but declined to attend.
The supremacy battle between Orengo and Oburu in 2012 nearly split the party at both county and national levels, with MPs taking sides.
Then Alego-Usonga MP Edwin Yinda chaired talks that led to a political pact, which saw Dr Oburu switch from the senatorial to the gubernatorial race.
“The two giants were giving us problems, and we don’t want them to do that because every time they do, they create a lot of problems both nationally and in the county,” Yinda said at the time.
The decision by the two leaders to vie for the same seat posed a significant challenge to Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is Oburu’s brother and views Orengo as his political confidant.
Both leaders accepted the compromise, stating that they had to agree on an arrangement that would guarantee peace for the people of Siaya.
Orengo said the news would be a welcome relief to the close associates of the two chief competitors, who had been engaged in a war of words.
“We have managed to get rid of the one thing that was the cause of hostility between Oburu and me,” he said.
The supremacy battle split the MPs, with the then-Government Chief Whip, the late Jakoyo Midiwo (Gem), Yinda, and Martin Ogindo (Rangwe) publicly declaring their support for Orengo, while only Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo supported Oburu.
In the recent past, Oburu has voiced his support for Wandayi as a probable heir apparent to the throne. He was said to be one of Wandayi’s main supporters when he declared his intention to contest the Siaya gubernatorial seat in 2022.
However, the party later settled on Orengo to fly the party flag in the last general election, in which he defeated Gumbo at the ballot.
Recently, Atandi broke ranks with Orengo over allegations of betrayal and declared that he would not support him.
Atandi claimed Orengo betrayed his deputy, William Oduol, and him, stating that they were reconsidering their political future without Orengo in 2027.
“In 2022, William and I embarked on a political journey. The person we supported and voted for as governor has betrayed us.
We will sit down with William and agree on our 2027 political journey to ensure we are not betrayed again. We will not enter a political agreement that is full of betrayal,” he said.
Atandi said Orengo first betrayed Oduol and then him, adding that they had learned their lesson the hard way.
“Orengo first chased William away from his government, and after that, he also threw me away. We have been betrayed in this political journey. We will chart our own future for 2027,” he said.
Odhiambo, once a close ally but now a foe, accused Orengo in 2024 of having good English but achieving zero development.
“Just loitering around at funerals does not help. The people of Siaya need development. I am partnering with the government for development. The only place where the government is building affordable houses in Siaya County is in Gem,” he said.
But Orengo has maintained that it is wrong for ODM to compromise its ideals for cheap gains that could be dangerous in the long run.
“On my part, I want my conscience to be clear. I want to say no to abduction. Again, I want to say there is too much sycophancy in the party at the moment.
I, James Orengo, the stone, Nyawawa, fear nothing. I want to say the Luo community must not lose the identity they are known for. We have an identity that defines us.
If we make compromises, they should be justified before God. We cannot suspend the Constitution. We may be happy now, but in the future, we may regret it.
I pray that ODM can withstand any storm. If compromises must be made, they should be based on principle and not mere praise and worship. We must stand firm and live by the constitution,” he said.
Recently, a section of Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) from Siaya threw their support behind Wandayi.
The MCAs, led by the Leader of the Majority in the Siaya Assembly, Mr Edwin Martin Otieno, criticised a section of leaders from Nyanza who are opposed to President Ruto.
“Ruto supported Raila in becoming Prime Minister. Currently, he has appointed some of our leaders into the government. It is unfortunate that some leaders want to bring village politics to undermine the development we are witnessing. We must call them out,” he said.
Wandayi is currently seen as one of the main supporters of President Ruto’s regime and has been instrumental in promoting its agenda and policies to the public.
“I urge my people to support the government and President Ruto. Let us not always be at the forefront of criticism but also give credit where it is due. Let us work for the government,” he has said on various occasions.
Photo courtesy
