By Anderson Ojwang
Siaya Governor James Orengo is a man in his own political dreamland. Utopian. Orengo could be relapsing into the 2002 politics and could be going against the emerging grain once again.
Viewed as the mentor of the emerging Linda Mwananchi Young Turks, namely Immediate Former Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Suba South MP Caroli Omondi, Vihiga Senator Goeffrey Oosts, among others, Orengo is taking a different political path.
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Young Turks
In the 1990s, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga had a team of young politicians under his umbrella; among them were Orengo, the late Wamalwa Kijana, Kiraitu Murungi, the late Raila Odinga, Prof. Anyang Nyong’o, Gitubu Imanyara, Dr Mukhisa Kituyi and the late George Kapten, among others.
The Young Turks were central to Jaramogi Oginga’s political dispensation and formed the bulk of his team after the split of the original Ford into Ford Kenya and Ford Asili of Oginga and the late Kenneth Matiba, respectively.
Currently, Orengo remains politically active as the surviving member of Jaramogi’s Young Turks, while Nyong’o will be completing his tenure as Kisumu Governor.
Kiraitu lost the gubernatorial seat in the 2022 General Election and has become one of the main President William Ruto allies in Mt Kenya.
The ODM fallout
After the death of Raila, the immediate former party leader of ODM, and the installation of Dr Oburu Oginga as the party leader, the leadership decided to engage in a pre-election coalition pact with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to support Ruto’s re-election.
Sifuna, Orengo, Babu, among others, were opposed to the move and consequently Sifuna and Osotsi were sacked from their respective positions in the party.
Subsequently, they founded the Linda Mwananchi Movement, which has gained traction nationally and currently has a huge following.
The de facto party leader
During the fallout, Orengo declared himself the “people’s party leader” within the ODM and accused the current party leadership of soiling the legacy of the late Raila Odinga.
During the rally in Nakuru, Orengo said, “We know the Secretary-General of ODM is Edwin Sifuna, and now Orengo is the acting party leader of ODM.”
But downplayed Orengo’s move, saying Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Zacchaeus Okoth was currently mediating between him and the Governor.
Oburu then dismissed claims of a serious fallout within the party, maintaining that he does not hold any personal grudge against the Siaya Governor.
“I do not have any personal issue with Orengo at the party. I was elected in a straight process,” he stated.
Dr Oburu also told a recent Kisumu rally that he was ready to quit as the ODM party leader to avoid dividing the Luo community, to the chagrin and dismay of his allies.
“I don’t like things people fight over that divide the community. If it’s me who is bringing division in the community, I am ready to quit. If it’s me causing division, then I am ready to quit,” he said then.
Orengo for president
Orengo, at a funeral in Homa Bay, declared his presidential bid in the Linda Mwananchi outfit.
Last Friday, at a funeral in Homa Bay, Orengo declared his presidential bid and wondered why the Luo community must support President William Ruto.
“Ruto was sworn in by a Constitution that he did not even support. You want to tell me there is no better Luo than Ruto that Kajwang can support? So Senator Moses Kajwang, from today I am here. You are my friend and son. From today, know I am the presidential candidate. A serious presidential candidate. Do I leave?” he said.
He said the Luo community has been central in Kenya’s politics and that place must not be relegated to oblivion.
“The Luo nation has long been the beating heart of Kenya’s democratic struggle, paying the ultimate price in the pursuit of justice and good governance.
Leaders like Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Tom Mboya, Argwings Kodhek, and the Rt. Hon. Raila Odinga consistently placed the nation above themselves.
Following in their footsteps, I offer my unyielding commitment to this legacy, refusing compromise and striving to fulfil the vision of our forefathers as we rise to the top,” he said.
But the declaration caused panic, anxiety and confusion in Linda Mwananchi after Sifuna had emerged as the presidential candidate for the outfit.
The declaration provided a vent to the public to understand a possible power struggle in the outfit even before it is registered.
A repeat of the 1992 Ford fallout
Orengo’s declaration was a reminder of a possible 1992 fallout reoccurring after opposition leaders the late Kenneth Matiba and Odinga failed to agree on the joint presidential candidate. The two opposition leaders lost to then President the late Daniel Arap Moi and died without becoming president.
Response to Orengo
Babu declared his support for Sifuna’s presidency and warned against those causing confusion in the outfit.
‘‘Those who have been sent to bring chaos in Linda Mwananchi, you must stop. We will not be threatened in Linda Mwananchi. You came and found Linda Mwananchi progressing. Linda Mwananchi will continue. We don’t want a divided attention.
We want to take Sifuna forward to State House. He is our brother. In the opposition, I want us to unite. Here in Mt Kenya, we take our comrade Kawira Mwangaza, we bring in Rigathi Gachagua, Stephen Kalonzo, Fred Matiang’i, Orengo and Babu so that we become one thing,” he said.
Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale appealed to Orengo to drop his presidential bid and instead support Sifuna.
**“Today, I am using this opportunity to appeal to Kiraitu Murungi, Peter Munya and Orengo. These are the men I have walked with politically, while you were still in school.
I am appealing to Orengo to undertake one final task: transfer power from our generation to the younger generation and give Edwin Sifuna the opportunity to become President of Kenya,”** Khalwale said.
Chief negotiator
Orengo is primed for the role of chief negotiator, but his insatiable desire for power could be clouding his focus and may destine him to oblivion.
The mixed signals could be counterproductive both nationally and at the county level, Siaya County, should he decide to defend his seat.
The utopian politics could be Orengo’s Waterloo.
