Raila now steps in to end Orengo, deputy battles

Siaya Governor James Orengo with his deputy William Oduol. [Michael Mute, Standard]

When he walked into the office in August last year, hopes were high that he was the political masterstroke who would transform the ten-year gaffe that was Siaya's administration into a devolution success story.

With stalled projects dotted in all the sub-counties wasting away and claims of corruption rocking the past administration, Siaya was screaming for a saviour.

Backed with an ambitious manifesto and a strong line-up of academic and administrative elites, Governor James Orengo presented that hope as he began his stint as the county's second governor.

An accomplished lawyer and politician, he had ticked nearly all the boxes. But for nine months, all is not well.

The falling out between Orengo and his deputy William Oduol has caused divisions among county staff, MCAs, leaders from the region, and the ODM party which controls the County Assembly with its unrivaled numbers.

The battle is being fought in courts, in burials, on social media, and consequently creating a politically-charged toxic environment for the devolved unit.

The fallout has triggered early succession politics barely a year after polls.

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But Orengo, who has for the last seven months launched several projects, among them the Sh50 million rice milling plant in Alego-Usonga, said his aim is to improve the lives of the people of Siaya.

"Instead of focusing on the 2027 elections, we should all put our energies into delivering services to the people of Siaya," said Orengo.

The governor is also still struggling to complete setting up his administration and is yet to appoint chief officers to help him implement his manifesto. Some of his development proposals including the elevation of Usenge to a town have ironically sparked outrage after traders claimed the elevation will attract unnecessary taxes.

The delays by the National Treasury to disburse funds to counties have only compounded Orengo's woes.

But Governor Orengo insists that the falling will not affect the management of his administration.

On Thursday, the governor and key officials from his administration met ODM leader Raila Odinga with sources informing The Standard that part of the discussions was to find solutions to the teething problems that have hit the devolved unit.

Orengo was accompanied by his Chief of Staff former government spokesperson Cyrus Oguna. "Raila is concerned with the row pitting the governor and his deputy and wants the leaders to focus on service delivery," said a source privy to the meeting.

Oduol claims his allies have been kicked out of Orengo's administration following the recent impeachment of the County Executive for Water Ms Caroline Onyango. The County Executive for Tourism Ms Angeline Oduor was appointed to act on the docket.

"The fallout will have a lot of attendant ramifications, especially in terms of people who would want to benefit from it. For example, it will weaken the Assembly's role of oversight among other things which will still affect service delivery," says Salim Odenyo, a political commentator.

According to Prof Eric Nyambedha, service delivery in the county can succeed if Orengo ignores his deputy.

"He (Oduol) is working at cross-purpose with the rest of the team. The best thing for him to do is to resign and join other watchdog groups to expose the rot," says Pro Nyambedha.

The immediate former governor Cornel Rasanga asked the two leaders to find a truce for the sake of development.

Orengo has said that he was not ready to give in to pressure, intimidation, or blackmail from his critics. It remains to be seen how Orengo will steady his ship.

[Additional reporting by Olivia Odhiambo]