By Anderson Ojwang’
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi could have served his teacher and mentor, Siaya Governor James Orengo, with a bitter political dose.
Wandayi claims that his political dose could have disabled and altogether dismantled Orengo’s political networks, not only in Siaya County but in Nyanza.
Tactfully, Wandayi could have slowed down the political activities of the Governor and returned him to the drawing board.
Orengo, one of the faces of the rebellion in the Orange Democratic Movement party and the then leading light of the rebel wing, Linda Mwananchi, could have swallowed more than he could chew.
Orengo joined hands with the immediate former Secretary-General of ODM and the current party leader of Linda Mwananchi, Edwin Sifuna, and Embakasi East MP and the current party leader of Mwananchi, Babu Owino, to drive the anti-President William Ruto and anti-ODM-UDA coalition narrative.
Orengo disengaged from his Siaya political allies to drive the anti-Ruto and anti-coalition agenda in the region and became a marked person.
Game plan
The first plot, which never materialised, was to impeach Orengo, but this never came to pass. Wandayi and the Speaker, George Okode, led a delegation of county assembly members on a courtesy and allegiance visit to President Ruto at his Sugoi home.
But West Gem Ward Representative Susan Okwiry then 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.
Disable
Wandayi and his team went ahead and dismantled Orengo’s grip on the assembly, propping up the Speaker to also declare his interest in the Siaya gubernatorial seat.
The anti-Orengo team took control of the assembly, undermining his government.
Loyalists defect
Wandayi masterminded a political coup against Orengo after he convinced two diehard supporters of the Governor to return to the broad-based alliance.
“As a prodigal son who sat with you in Eldoret, I went on a benchmarking visit in Homa Bay. I want to say that two days ago, without coercion, I made it clear that I am coming back to the party which the late Raila Amolo Odinga left us. I support Ruto for two terms,” said Gordon Onguru.
Onguru was a key pillar in Orengo’s politics, and his departure was a big blow to the Siaya Governor. After Onguru’s exit, another pillar, a nominated MCA, also crossed over and was received by Wandayi.
Wandayi said he took a deliberate move to puncture Orengo’s political infrastructure in Siaya.
“I took the initiative to bring together everybody and leaders from Siaya. Even those who had gone astray to LDP. I am working very aggressively to bring all of them to our government, the broad-based movement comprising UDA and ODM,” he said.
He said Siaya County must speak with one voice and vote in one basket.
“It should be our wish and desire that this county speak with one voice, and we are bringing them together,” he said.
Wandayi claimed that within a short period of time, he had been able to dismantle Orengo’s political machine.
“In fact, within a very short time, we have succeeded in dismantling the political infrastructure of Governor Orengo in Siaya.
That gives me the confidence that, as we move along, Siaya will be a broad-based county, and our people, who are used to voting in one direction, will not change this,” he said.
He said Orengo was free to return to ODM and the broad-based coalition.
“Our doors remain open, and I have told Orengo he is free to come back to the broad-based coalition,” he said.
He dismissed Orengo’s LDP party as inconsequential in the emerging political dynamics.
“I have seen he has decided to form some party, LDP. He launched it somewhere in someone’s home in Kwale. I can tell you there is no chance for any other party apart from ODM and the broad-based coalition in Siaya,” he said.
LDP
Orengo recently launched LDP and was also made co-chair of the Ukombozi political alliance.
Speaking in Kisumu on Thursday, 13th August 2026, Orengo said the movement was being prepared to become a national political vehicle capable of competing for power and advancing what he described as the constitutional and reformist ideals associated with Raila.
“I want to give my vow before you that Linda Mwananchi is going to transition into a political party. We know the election timelines, and I want to tell you we are not going to let you down,” Orengo told supporters.
Orengo wrote:
“The LDP Party continues to grow by leaps and bounds from Kwale to Garissa, Garissa to Turkana, and onward to the shores of Lake Victoria.
Today, we held candid and productive discussions with key leaders driving our grassroots expansion, including Rael Arot (MP Aspirant, Turkana Central), Mariam Mbindo (Woman Rep Aspirant, Kwale County), Mohammed Dimbil (former Garissa ODM Chairperson and current Garissa Township MCA Aspirant), and Alice Ajikon (Lodwar Township MCA Aspirant, Turkana Central).”
Survive
With the changing political climate and terrain, will Orengo survive the onslaught and turn the tables on his political tormentors?
