By Anderson Ojwang
Migori County has never disappointed. It has lived up to the billing. It’s promising once again to erupt. The pressure is intensifying. The ground is rumbling. Tension is high, with hostility from the public and among the elected leaders brewing. The division is real, with each leader reading from their script.
From the county assembly to the governor, the senator, members of parliament, and the public, the battle lines have been drawn. Soon, it may return to the original Migori— the war zone and gangland.
Migori Governor Ochilo Ayacko has been firefighting on multiple fronts: from conflicts with the assembly to battles with MPs from the county and the gold war that pits local artisans against Chinese and other international investors.
Members of the public are not left out, expressing jittery concerns over service provision and the dwindling economy. Unlike the tenure of immediate former Governor Okoth Obado, when several projects were initiated and money circulated freely, creating a vibrant economy, the current leadership is facing mounting criticism.
In the county assembly, opponents of the governor hold sway with a majority of members. If unchecked, this could lead to an impeachment attempt before the 2027 General Election. Meanwhile, most MPs from the county are at loggerheads with the governor. Some, like Suna West MP Peter Masara and Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, have declared interest in the gubernatorial seat and have been decampaigning Ayacko on the ground. Others, such as Rongo MP Paul Abuor, are not aligned with the governor.
From the Kuria region, MPs are aligned with Ayacko’s opponents and have been actively campaigning against him. To counter these moves and mend fences, the governor recently reshuffled his government, adding one more County Executive Committee (CEC) member from the Kuria community and appointing three additional chief officers to appeal to this crucial vote bloc.
Last Friday, a visibly infuriated and disappointed Senator Eddy Oketch, previously a staunch ally of the governor, did not hold back his criticism:
“Governor, I am very bitter. I have never been bitter with you. You see these people sitting here claim that Eddy Oketch and the governor are swindling county funds. It is sad because I have been quiet despite some political blocs fighting the governor.
When the people elected us, I said I will not fight my own governor because I want development to reach the ground. The governor knows his role, and as a senator, I know mine. Why would it be that when I organise my function and invite my guests, the governor then goes behind my back to request them to skip my function?
Governor, I have vouched for you. Orengo (Siaya Governor James) cannot lie; Susan Mangeni (Permanent Secretary in the State Department of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises) cannot lie. You cannot come to my function after you advised Orengo not to attend because you were away and then show up.
I cannot be disrespected in Migori County. You cannot destroy my function. I can turn to Muok Retego, my dark side. You will never want to see the side of Muok Retego in Migori County,” he said.
In response, Governor Ayacko dismissed the accusations, urging elected leaders to focus on their responsibilities and avoid petty conflicts:
“I have come here to conduct harambee. I want to say this and respond to the senator: I have forgiven him because he doesn’t know what he is talking about. The senator invited his friends. I know Susan Mangeni and Governor James Orengo. We respect one another. I don’t know if he spoke to them to be his guests. They asked him to enjoin me in the function, but he did not.
This morning, Mangeni and Orengo called to ask how the function was progressing. I told them I don’t know. You can look for the governor of Siaya to be a guest at your function. If you look at the poster, I am not included.
He has claimed that at a function of Migori Speaker Christopher Rusana, he was denied an opportunity to speak, and even that he blames on me. Do I look like Rusana? The senator’s problem is purely a lack of knowledge on protocol. Protocol is studied and learned.”
Beyond this political drama, Governor Ayacko still faces criticism over the gold battle between investors and local artisans. Artisans accuse him of failing to protect their interests, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation by investors.
Macalder MCA Felix Odhiambo Okwanyo remarked:
“The Cabinet Secretary for Mining has stood with the artisans, but our governor has remained non-committal. We are wondering what the problem could be. Does he want to protect his voters, or has he abandoned us to the hands of investors to perish?”
As tensions rise, Migori County appears set for further divisions and unrest, with leaders clashing over resources, responsibilities, and political ambitions. The battle for the county’s future has begun.
