Oburu abandons Siaya Senate bid

Bondo MP Oburu Odinga and his Ugenya counterpart James Orengo shake hands at a past function. [Photo:File/Standard]

By Felix Olick

Nairobi, Kenya: Finance Assistant Minister Oburu Odinga has stepped down for his Lands counterpart James Orengo for the Siaya Senatorial position that had threatened to dismember the Orange party.

Under the new agreement, Oburu who is also the Bondo lawmaker would now be gunning for the Siaya gubernatorial position.

The two MPs who are senior leaders in the ODM party announced they had buried the hatched and agreed to work together for the sake of peace and unity of the party.

“Through consensus and understanding and in order to bring about harmony, unity and peace in the County of Siaya, we propose that James Orengo and Dr. Oburu Oginga vie respectively for the seat of Senator and Governor,” announced Alego Usonga MP Edwin Yinda on behalf of the five MPs within the County.

The leaders noted that they brokered the deal after intensive discussions bringing together all the leaders from within the County.

They however insisted that it is not upon them to select and impose certain leaders on the people arguing that anybody else is welcome to battle it out with the two for the ODM ticket.

“Let it not be construed that this is meant to lock anybody else from running for any other position within the party. We have not closed the door in Siaya County,” announced ODM Secretary General Anyang’ Nyong’o.

At the same time, former Gem Legislator Joe Donde who had declared interest in Siaya gubernatorial position said he had stepped down for Oburu.

The race for the Siaya senatorial position was promising to be a bruising duel since Orengo, is one of Prime Minister Raila Odinga’s key confidants while Oburu is Raila’s elder brother.

The titanic battle had also divided MPs in the region with Gem MP Jakoyo Midiwo and Yinda supporting Orengo while Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo was in Oburu’s camp.

However, Speaking at Orange House in Nairobi on Wednesday, Oburu said that he was not coerced into the new deal adding that as a development economist, he has what it takes to tap into the fortunes of the County.

“I feel that this is the best decision. The party is bigger than all of us,” declared Oburu.

He maintained that he has vast experience in administration and stepped out of management when he ventured into politics 19 years ago.

Orengo on the other hand, described Oburu as a brother and a political buddy.

The Lands Minister recalled how they both came together to draft the Cord coalition agreement that brought together Raila, Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Trade Minister Moses Wetangula.

The decision by the two to vie for the same seat was seen as a big challenge to the PM, who is facing a similar scenario in most regions where ODM political heavyweights are battling it out for new County positions.