By Anderson Ojwang
The once ardent critic of broad-based government, Siaya Governor James Orengo has changed tune and now says the future is bright for President William Ruto and the people of Kenya.
Speaking in Siaya, Orengo said provided that Ruto continue to work for Kenyans and the people of Siaya, his future and that of the country is bright.
A departure from activism and criticism, Orengo acknowledged that “So far, the work is going on and we are happy with the ongoing programs. How many of you agree to the broad-based government to gain development? Siaya, Ugenya, Gem, Alega, Bondo, Rarieda, do you agree to support the broad-based government?”
Previously, Orengo was one of the key Raila’s allies who were opposed to the broad-based government and ran into trouble with his colleagues from Nyanza and the ODM party.
During a recent burial in Uyoma that was attended hy Ruto and Raila, Orengo said it was wrong for ODM to compromise its ideals for cheap gains that it would be dangerous at the end of the game.
“On my part, I want my conscience to be clear. I want to say no to abduction. Again, I want to say there is too much sycophancy in the party at the moment.
I James Orengo, the stone, Nyawawa.I fear nothing. I want to say the luo as community must not lose their identity they are known for. We have identity that we are known for.
If we make compromises, they should be justified before God. We cannot suspend the constitution. We may be happy now but in future may regret.
I pray for ODM you can stand any storm. If you make compromises but it should be based on principle and not praise and worship. We must stand firm and leave by constitution,” he said.
But yesterday, Orengo said they follow the direction given by Raila and that is why he had ensured the president received a warm welcome in Siaya.
“Your excellency the president, last night and this morning, Honorable Raila Odinga rang and asked me to make sure that people of Siaya receive you well.
I am glad that those instructions have been carried out. When baba says right, we go right. When baba says left, we go left. How many of you are in agreement that when baba says right, we go right?
Your excellency the president I want to allay fears of those who think you don’t Siaya in your heart. Last week, when we spoke and you said you will be coming to Siaya that October 16th October will be in Siaya for the Siaya International Trade and Investment Conference and will be presided by the president.
I want to say to the people of Siaya, particularly from the bishop’s sermon of the brothers staying together. A people united would always succeed.
We want Siaya to be united, but we also want Kenya to be united. I am glad, the president you are on the road of putting Kenya together.
And this is exemplified by the fact that when you were forming your government you included the people of Siaya,” he said.
Raila at the recent burial of Mama Phoebe Asiyo in Karachuonyo said he doesn’t regret joining President Ruto and the subsequent formation of the broad-based government as it was for the good of the country to avoid it from sliding into a failed state.
He said the people will judge them when that time comes and expressed confidence that they will prevail and carry the Kenyans trust with them at that moment.
“We sacrificed so that there could be peace in this country. And that is the reason we are here today. I don’t regret what we did. We did it in the best interest of our country and Kenya must move forward.
We must continue to must improve our governance structure, and issue of human rights must be respected.
We have sat together and reviewed the memorandum of understanding (MOU) we signed this year and now we have put together a framework to ensure the MOU is implemented to the letter.
This is going to happen, those who have been maimed, injured and died will be compensated from 2017 to date.
We have a structure to ensure that the Mou is implemented and that is why next week, we are going to have a joint parliamentary group meeting so that we can be able to implement what we have agreed on.
I want to say to the naysayers give us space and room. Judge us in 2027. And we have said this is going to remain in place up to 2027 and after that we see where we go to.
You are saying wantam (one term). So what? It is the Kenyans who will decide the terms, and we will see where we want to go. I am confident when that time comes, we will face Kenyans squarely and tell Kenyans why we did what we had to do and where we want to go.
You will tell your agenda and we will tell Kenyans our agenda and we will see who the Kenyans will trust. I am not worried about those making noise. It like a frog croaking that doesn’t scare the cows from drinking water. They will actually drink the water,
We will be able to move beyond 2027. I am confident we will move beyond 2027. Nobody should try to threaten us. We are Kenyans. Don’t go and says that Kenya is sectionalized. We are from the Coast, we are from the Lake, we are from the Mountain, we are from the Valley. This is unacceptable. We are Kenyans. Every Kenyan matter. “He said.
Orengo change of heart now leaves ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and MP Babu Owino as the only few remaining faces of dissident to the broad-based government.
