Siaya County Governor James Orengo’s open rebellion against the broad-based government has offended some Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party members.

Governor Orengo is being accused of undermining President William Ruto and ODM party leader Raila Odinga. Tension has escalated after the Ramogi Professional Caucus, professionals from the Luo community in Nyanza, threatened to sponsor an impeachment motion against him over his criticism.

During the burial of Odinga’s long-serving aide George Odour in Siaya on April 12, Orengo said he would not join the “praise-singing bandwagon”.

“I cannot be a praise-singer. We fought for a democratic constitution where people should speak freely. I urge Kenyans to tell their leaders the truth. This country will go to the dogs again if the kind of language we hear continues. If anything is brought to Siaya County, it will be as a matter of right, not as a favour,” Orengo said.

The remarks sparked a backlash from the RPC, which accused Orengo of sabotaging the ODM-UDA collaboration.

“We want to tell Siaya Governor James Orengo that we are not happy with his remarks at Oduor’s burial on Saturday. As a community, we are united and fully support the broad-based government. This is the only way we can ensure we develop economically. We cannot be in opposition forever,” said RPC chairperson Joshua Nyamori.

Governor Orengo has, on several occasions, directly criticised Odinga in political gatherings and accused senior ODM figures of sycophancy, arguing they have morphed into President Ruto’s “praise and worship team”.

Last week, Odinga was forced to issue a statement appealing to ODM members to exercise restraint and decorum while debating the current state of affairs amid speculations of a rift within the party.

His spokesperson, Dennis Onyango, explained that he is keenly following the relationship between ODM and the Kenya Kwanza administration and how the stakeholders interpret the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed.

“It is the position of the Party Leader that at the appropriate time, relevant organs of the party will harmonise the diverse views and come up with a harmonised position on the way forward. Mr. Odinga appeals to top ODM members and leaders to exercise decorum, civility, restraint and respect for each other as they debate the current state of affairs and the future of the party,” the statement read in part.

Despite the criticism, Orengo has received support. Lawyer Gitobu Imanyara said Orengo speaks a language of integrity in a betrayed nation.

In an editorial piece published by the Standard Newspaper, Imanyara, a former two-term member of parliament (MP), said, “In a season where silence has become the preferred language of cowardice and betrayal, Orengo has once again proven why history remembers him as a principled warrior of Kenya’s second liberation. His recent statement wasn’t just a political outburst – it was a moment of moral reckoning for the nation, especially for the ODM, which once claimed to be the conscience of the people.”

People’s Liberation Party (PLP) leader Martha Karua also spoke out after several social media users claimed Odinga did not fight for the country’s liberation.

In a statement on X, Karua dismissed the claims, insisting that Odinga was vital to the country’s liberation. She equally praised Orengo, stating that his role in the fight for multipartyism was well documented. “Even though we differ politically, truth be told, Raila Odinga was an integral part of the 2nd liberation alongside James Orengo and others. We cannot change history, he was detained, jailed and like James Orengo, forced to flee Kenya for a while.”

The rocky relationship between Odinga and Orengo

Orengo has had a turbulent relationship with Odinga since the 1990s. Their rivalry began during power struggles over control of the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya (FORD-Kenya), then the country’s main opposition party, and a contest over Nyanza’s political leadership.

Orengo was once a confidant of Odinga’s father, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Kenya’s first vice president. After Jaramogi’s death, Orengo opposed Odinga’s bid to inherit the leadership of FORD-Kenya, instead backing Michael Kijana Wamalwa.

The rift led Odinga to form the National Development Party (NDP), while Orengo defeated Odinga’s candidate in the 1999 parliamentary elections to retain his Ugenya seat.

In the 2002 general election, Orengo ran against Odinga, but lost the presidential bid under the Social Democratic Party (SDP) after finishing a distant fourth. Odinga’s candidate, Mwai Kibaki, won the election under the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), ending the Kenya African National Union’s (KANU) approximately 40-year rule.

In 2007, after five years in the political cold, Orengo joined Odinga’s ODM party and became one of his trusted allies.

In February 2014, Orengo deserted Odinga after skipping the highly charged national party elections at Kasarani Gymnasium in Nairobi. Initially, Orengo was touted for the position of Secretary General but opted out of the race when it became apparent that nominated Senator Agnes Zani was enjoying the support of the party’s top leadership.

At the time, Orengo said he could see factionalism coming into the party, and he was uncomfortable with that situation because he feared the party could not survive beyond Kasarani.

Odinga and Orengo have had bruising battles. However, close allies say Odinga’s family connection and his long history in the political struggle alongside Orengo have kept them together.

For instance, during the 2007 general election, Odinga campaigned for Orengo for the Ugenya seat, following a stiff challenge from Steve Mwanga. Then Odinga implored his audience to give him Orengo since the battle ahead was major and he needed bright minds like Orengo’s to help him “run government”.  

The electorate obliged, and Odinga appointed Orengo to the Cabinet in the Grand Coalition Government with President Mwai Kibaki.  

Fact box 

• Senior Counsel James Aggrey Bob Orengo is a lawyer, a human rights activist and a politician. 
• He was elected as the MP for the Ugenya Constituency on a KANU ticket in a by-election in 1980 at 29 years. He was elected again for two consecutive terms in 1992 and 1997.
• In 2002, he vied for the presidency and lost. 
• In 2005, he joined the ODM party.
• In 2007, he won the Ugenya Parliamentary seat and served until 2013. 
• He was the Minister of Lands from 2008 to 2013. 
• In 2013, he was elected as Senator for Siaya County and served until 2017.