By James Okoth
When a group of Siaya County MCAs met President William Ruto, they broke into a spontaneous “tutam” song, a vibrant chorus pledging support and affirming Ruto’s re-election bid in 2027. The moment was cheerful, symbolic and politically charged.
In a county long regarded as the political sanctuary of the late Raila Odinga, the scene was startling. Siaya has for decades stood as the stronghold of the Orange Democratic Movement with Governor James Orengo serving as one of the most loyal custodians of Odinga’s legacy. The MCAs’ open admiration for Ruto instantly ignited speculation that the meeting was more than a courtesy call and perhaps a move to weaken Orengo’s administration from within.
West Gem Ward Representative Susan Okwiry quickly moved to calm the storm. “There is nothing like the impeachment of Governor James Orengo,” she stated firmly. Okwiry, who has expressed interest in the Siaya County Woman Representative seat, maintained that the visit was purely about development and collaboration, not political betrayal.
Her remarks, however, did little to silence the talk. In Siaya’s charged political atmosphere, even symbolism carries the power of disruption. The songs, the smiles and the pledges of loyalty have already triggered waves of interpretation across the county’s political circles.
If the meeting was part of an impeachment scheme, it would represent an audacious challenge to the structures the late Odinga built. Unseating Orengo would be tantamount to striking at the heart of ODM’s ideological command. It would also signal a daring shift within Siaya, where loyalty to the Odinga name has long defined political survival.
Such a move would hand Ruto a significant symbolic victory in the very territory that has historically resisted him. For the MCAs, the decision to align with Ruto would be both risky and strategic. Risky because of possible backlash from ODM loyalists, yet strategic because access to the presidency often translates into access to resources.
If, on the other hand, the meeting had no connection to impeachment, it still holds deep political meaning. County leaders increasingly view engagement with the presidency as a path to unlocking stalled projects and securing development funding. Pragmatism, not rebellion, could have driven the visit.
From that perspective, the gathering may represent a quiet shift in political thinking. The age of strict party loyalty is giving way to an era where development interests override partisan divides. Siaya’s leaders might simply be reading the new political script of survival in modern Kenya.
Yet the optics linger. The tutam song, the cheers for Ruto and Okwiry’s swift denial have combined to mark a new chapter in Siaya’s political story. Whether it was a test of loyalty or a quest for partnership, the visit has unsettled the traditional order.
Governor Orengo remains calm for now. But the meeting has introduced a silent contest of allegiance and ambition. Beneath the surface, the legacy of the late Raila Odinga still looms large, even as a new generation of leaders begins to dance to a different rhythm.
