By Anderson Ojwang
Speaker George Okode is a history maker. The soft-spoken but tough and hands-on leader, Okode is the only speaker in the country serving his third term as the Speaker of the Siaya County Assembly.
While several speakers have run into problems with members of county assemblies, Okode has remained the darling of the Siaya Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).
“I have mastered the art of working with the MCAs. We are able to understand each other. I know it is through the assembly and their delivery that they get re-election. To that end, I have delivered,” he said.
Acting Governor Okode became the first and only speaker in the country to have acted as governor. In 2013, after a successful challenge by Dr. William Oduol Denge over the election of Governor Amoth Rasanga at the Kisumu High Court, which subsequently nullified the election, Okode was sworn in to act until a new governor was elected. After Rasanga won the fresh election, he resumed office.
“It was one of my best experiences to have acted as governor. I told myself, I will be the substantive governor of Siaya, and the time is now,” he said.
Mastered the Winning Strategy
Speaker Okode is a political fox in county assembly politics. His election as speaker has never been dependent on the party but on his hold over the MCAs.
“I have never relied on the party to be elected to the office of speaker. I know how to win a speaker’s election. I have a solid bond with the MCAs which goes above political inclinations,” he said.
Delicate Balancing Act
Okode has mastered the art of a delicate balancing act in the stormy and unpredictable political waters. He has successfully worked with two governors, Rasanga and now the incumbent, James Orengo.
Orengo is one of the leaders of the Linda Mwananchi faction in the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The other faction, Linda Ground, is aligned with party leader Dr. Oburu Oginga, to which Okode ascribes.
“I have been able to successfully work with the two governors. I was able to sit down with the governors and come to an agreement on the deliverables. Our work is to deliver services to the residents. We cannot be fighting to the detriment of the electorate,” he said.
Impeaching Orengo
The speaker controls the majority of the MCAs and has the support of 99 percent of the members, leaving Orengo with only one MCA.
Several quarters have, on many occasions, tried to persuade Okode to initiate the impeachment of Orengo, but the level-headed and independent speaker has declined to give in to the pressure.
“What is the bigger picture? Service to the electorate or infighting? Our simple role is to offer services, and that is our main preoccupation,” he said.
Alego Usonga MP Sam Atandi and Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi have on several occasions lobbied for the impeachment of Orengo, who is opposed to the broad-based government and the re-election of President William Ruto.
Broad-Based Government
Siaya County Government is a unique environment where the governor is an avowed opponent of the broad-based government and one of the harshest critics and challengers of ODM party leader Oburu, while the speaker is an ally of the party leader and a supporter of the broad-based government.
This explains why Okode recently invited Dr. Oburu to address the assembly, where they expressed their support for the broad-based government and President Ruto.
The speaker also recently led the MCAs to President Ruto’s Sugoi home in Eldoret, where the president engaged with the leaders.
“We must draw a demarcation between politics and development. I respect Orengo’s political position, and he too respects ours. Our common agenda is service to the community,” he said.
Why Okode is the Compromise Candidate
In the Siaya gubernatorial race, Speaker Okode is emerging as the compromise and strongest candidate in the Dr. Oburu-led wing.
The return of former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo to the fold has not endeared him to elected leaders and professionals. Most MPs and elected leaders are uncomfortable with Gumbo and view him as a UDA mole within the ODM outfit.
Both Okode and Gumbo come from the same ward, while Oduol is viewed as a “traitor” who only returned to ODM during the 2022 elections to mop up votes for Orengo.
Oduol was impeached by the assembly but was rescued by the courts. Currently, he is a stranger in the Siaya County Government.
Both Oduol and Gumbo are viewed as UDA moles, which makes them less appealing and unlikeable. This is why Okode is viewed as a more viable candidate for the party.
With Orengo out of the Oburu lineup, the field has been left to Okode, Oduol, and Gumbo.
For Ugenya MP David Ochieng, who is also eyeing the seat on his MDG Party ticket, he faces hard questions from the electorate after once revealing that his lineage is in Busia County.
As the clock ticks and political realignments occur, Okode’s star keeps rising day by day.
