By Anderson Ojwang
The defiant Siaya Governor is already at Usenge, where President William Ruto is expected to launch the construction of a Sh500M pier by the Kenya Ports Authority.
Orengo walked majestically to where his rivals were waiting to receive the President and greeted them. One of them joked, “Bye, Orengo,” and they broke into laughter. They exchanged pleasantries with opponents, including Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi, among others.
On Saturday, Orengo gave a wide berth to President Ruto’s function in Gem; instead, he opted to attend a burial in Uyoma, where he was accompanied by Embakasi East MP Babu Owino. Speaking in Siaya, Orengo invited his political opponents to a “battle royale,” saying they were bound to lose.
“Wadwa yuare gi jogi ka bim gi guok… I am not scared. Luos must be proud. You don’t walk into a place like a beggar, but as someone who is in their own home,” he said. Orengo said they will stand for the truth and will not go begging for support, questioning the direction President Ruto is taking.
“Ruto is taking us to a sinking ship. I am urging everybody that joining Ruto is a disaster and an abomination. It cannot work,” he said. He questioned why the ODM leadership was in a hurry to form a coalition without structures, terming it “suicidal.”
“We will stand for the truth to the end. If one comes to seek the hand of your daughter, he must declare what he has brought. How will he listen to you if he is already cohabiting with your daughter?” he posed.
At the Gem function, MPs and leaders apologized to President Ruto for Orengo’s failure to attend the function and promised to elect a new governor in the 2027 general election. For President Ruto, Nyanza has become “a key political destination” as he prepares to defend his seat in the 2027 general election; hence his move toward a pre-election coalition pact with the Orange Democratic Movement (脫DM).
“I thank you, people of Siaya, for giving me the hardworking Opiyo Wandayi. You have also given me the Assembly Budget Committee Chairman, Sam Atandi. We have budgeted Sh4.5 billion for roads in Siaya. We are working to transform Siaya and other parts of the country,” he said in Gem, Siaya County.
MP Sam Atandi said that in 2027, Siaya will have “a new governor,” and that Orengo will be thrown into the “political dustbin.”
“We are not fearing anybody. We want to announce here today that we are going to elect a new governor for Siaya,” he said. Atandi added that Orengo has failed to deliver on his mandate and has “no development record” to show residents.”
Leaders present apologized to the President for Orengo’s absence and promised to unseat him in the next general election.
“Mr. President, we want to apologize. It is sad that the Governor seeks development from you, you honor the request, but he turns around to criticize you. We implore you to ignore him,” said Ugenya MP David Ochieng.
