By Anderson Ojwang’
Currently, Dr William Oduol Denge is the country’s forgotten deputy governor, pushed to the periphery by the power that be at the county government. After surviving an impeachment, Oduol became a pariah and can only be seen but not to be heard.
Despite his contribution to the election victory, Oduol is unwanted man, scorned and disliked at the County Government for his alleged anti-corruption crusade and a fall out with the Governor James Orengo.
Oduol for the second time in his political stint, has borne the wrath of the power that be after 2013 Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) nomination for the governor seat, where he was denied victory after emerging stronger candidate to Dr Oburu Oginga, the current Siaya senator.
Oduol’s victory was nipped from the bud after the party leadership opted to award the certificate to little known Cornel Rasanga Amoth.
Rasanga went to win the contested gubernatorial election.
Rasanga’s victory was short lived after the Kisumu High Court nullified his election. In the repeat election, Rasanga won and Oduol took a political leave in 2017.
But in 2022 general election, ODM and Orengo opted to recruit Oduol into their camp and made him the running mate that catapulted them to victory.
But after election, a fall out between Orengo and Oduol occurred over alleged corruption in the administration and other malpractices.
The Siaya County assembly passed the motion that impeached Oduol, but the senate rescued him from the jaws of his enemies and gave him a new lease of life.
But as fate, would have it, the administration drove him to the oblivion, and he became a stranger in his own turf.
“The office the deputy governor has completely been disabled.
All staff have been directed not to communicate neither take instructions from the DG.
The DG does not get invited to cabinet meetings and his benefits and allowances withdrawn including fueling his official county car on his own,” Oduol said.
But over the weekend an open letter penned by a resident, one Julius Owino Oluoch Ahere opened a can of worms about the pain and suffering of Oduol.
He wrote “Dear Governor Orengo,
I am writing to you as a concerned resident of Siaya County to express my deep concern regarding your prolonged absence from official duties as Governor of Siaya for now more than three weeks and severally before.
You are a public servant to all of us irrespective of afflictions. We are all concerned Dear Governor.
Your absence from public view and official duties has raised serious questions and concerns among residents about the continuity of governance and leadership in our County.
We, as citizens, have a right to know the whereabouts of our elected officials and the reasons for their absence, particularly during times when important decisions and policies are being formulated and implemented.
Therefore, I request a clear and transparent explanation regarding your current location and the reasons for your absence from the Governor’s office and public engagements.
This information is crucial for maintaining public trust and confidence in our state’s leadership.
Article 182(4) & (5) provide that if a Governor is unable to fulfill their duties, the Deputy Governor assumes the office.
If both offices are vacant, the Speaker of the County Assembly acts as governor for a limited period, with an election to be held within 60 days.
Recently we saw the Speaker received a PS for the state department of Livestock – Hon Jonathan Mweke and commissioning County Government projects (in place of the CGS Governor Orengo and or The Deputy Governor Hon William Oduol).
I look forward to your prompt response and clarification on this matter.”
Oduol in his response said he was happy that he had vindicated after Orengo fell out with majority MPs from Siaya.
He wondered why if President William Ruto and former prime Minister Raila Odinga were able to have a handshake at the national level, what has stopped a similar gesture at the county level.
Oduol said despite the senate recommending that they work together for the betterment of Siaya, Orengo has completely refused to accept him back.
“Currently Siaya County is on auto pilot.
The governor is away in India, but he has not handed over to me as the deputy governor to act in his absence, so no one knows what is going on in Siaya.
We have a situation where you have the governor’s PA and security giving orders on who and what needs to be done.
Similarly, we have a situation, where we have critical finance positions that is the CEC Finance and Chief officer of finance both in acting capacity with no supervisory undertakings from either the governor or his deputy.”
Oduol said his enemies and cartels in the county are very happy with the situation because they fear his distaste for graft and plunder.
“The assembly on the other hand has also abdicated their oversight role preferring and instead have reverted to getting involved in implementation function, a preserve of the county executive.
Why would the speaker of the county represent the governor in his absence on an executive role while the governor is away?
Why not the DG?
And if the DG cannot represent why not someone senior from the executive?” He quipped
Oduol said his attempts to reconcile with Orengo have been rebuffed and he has opted to take a back seat and watch from the sides.
I have made many attempts to reach out to Orengo without any luck. I have decided to take a back seat, but I am happy that I have been vindicated.
All the MPs from Siaya have raised the same issues that I raised in 2022, over lack of leadership, graft, lethargy and hands off management style amongst many others,” he said.
