Oburu Oginga: My problem with James Orengo

“Why does he insist on practising activism politics at a time when the Nyanza region, which has been marginalised by past regimes, is reaping the fruits of being in government courtesy of a Memorandum of Understanding between President William Ruto and Mr Odinga?” he posed.

Mr Orengo has lately emerged as a fierce critic of the broad-based arrangement between the ODM leader and Dr Ruto—a stand that has not only angered his colleagues but also led to his isolation by those who were once his close allies.

During an interview with a vernacular TV station on Tuesday night, Dr Oginga spilt it all, revealing where his strained relationship with Governor Orengo started before disintegrating.

During the burial ceremony of George Oduor, who served as Mr Odinga's bodyguard for decades, Mr Orengo tore into the broad-based government, unbothered by the presence of both Mr Odinga and President Ruto.

"I am telling you, praise-singing won’t take us anywhere. Please tell your leader the truth. I don't do song praise. This country will go to the dogs if the kind of language I am hearing here continues. If there is something being brought to Siaya, it is a matter of right, not that we are being given as a favour," said Mr Orengo.

His remarks did not go down well with Dr Oginga, who has challenged the county boss to leave ODM if he is uncomfortable with the broad-based government.

"It is not usually in my character to call out my fellow politicians, but I found the governor’s remarks distasteful, to say the least. Whereas I spoke about the Luo community claiming its share in the national cake, Orengo accused me of retrogressive talk,” he said.

“He referred to us as praise and worship singers. That was a serious insult to us leaders, because I can never worship a human being. We should not engage in such slander as leaders."

The senator also expressed his displeasure with what he termed Governor Orengo’s activism brand of politics, saying that such an approach was unhealthy for Siaya County.

"Orengo is the governor, but has turned into an activist. He should stop this activism and work for the people. You want to fight, yet people are waiting for services," said Dr Oginga.

He explained that there are two levels of government—the county and the national—with scarce resources to be shared equitably across the country, hence the need to fight for a place at the high table where the national cake is being shared.

He maintains that whatever they are pushing for is not aimed at grabbing what is meant for other regions, but to lay stake on what has eluded the Nyanza region for several years.

"It is not like development isn’t our right, but Kenya has scarce resources, and that is why we must have representation at the high table," said Dr Oginga.

When asked whether he had approached Mr Orengo to iron out these issues, Dr Oginga said he had spoken to the county boss, but the governor seemed not to be keen on backtracking from the position he currently holds over President Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza administration.

Prior to the signing of a MoU with Dr Ruto, Dr Oginga said his party leader sat them down to get their views regarding working with the President—a meeting in which party members expressed divergent views.

According to the Siaya Senator, while some members suggested that a national dialogue be convened to discuss and seek solutions for the issues bedevilling the government of the day, others felt that the dialogue should be preceded by a working agreement.

"I was of the opinion that the broad-based arrangement should not wait for a national dialogue forum. Some people did not want the broad-based [deal] before dialogue, but we said the country has to move on without the forum. I was one of the proponents of this," said Dr Oginga.

He added that when Mr Odinga tabled the proposal, ODM party members met and discussed it before it was decided that the broad-based arrangement was the way to go.

"I am not a party official, and therefore I did not attend any of those meetings, but I am following the party direction as a loyal member," said Dr Oginga.

Despite the fierce attacks by his counterparts, Mr Orengo has clung to his position over President Ruto’s administration, vowing not to be sucked into showering praises for the government.

He insisted that the Orange party must work towards changing some things within the electoral system and continue championing fidelity to the Constitution.

“We are setting a bad precedent in our country in the name of signing post-poll pacts. I want a situation where in the future, without Raila on the ballot, our grandchildren will contest and win elections—or lose. Let them lose fairly, but not because of a bad precedent set by us,” said Mr Orengo, when he launched the construction of a hospital in Bar Ndege.

Meanwhile, Dr Oginga said the deal with UDA might be firmed up in 2027 or dropped altogether, depending on the circumstances at that time.

"As things stand now, there is no deal we have with Ruto for the 2027 General Election. If Kenya Kwanza fulfils their promises as captured in the MoU, we will continue working together. However, if they fail to meet their end of the bargain before the next elections, then we will break ranks," warned Dr Oginga.

The senator said there’s a need to recognise and respect political strongholds in the country while stressing that there should not be any form of sibling rivalry between ODM and UDA to avoid interference or competition.

"The spirit should be one that doesn't allow competition between us and UDA. Other parties are, however, allowed to field candidates," said Dr Oginga.

According to him, what the 'new opposition' is doing by coming together is good, but he expressed his doubts about the outfit’s future due to what he termed the dynamics of Kenyan politics.

Members of the new opposition include former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wiper Democratic Movement Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Democratic Action Party Leader Eugene Wamalwa, People's Liberation Party's Martha Karua, former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang'i, former Attorney General Justin Muturi, and Mukhisa Kituyi.

"Whatever the new opposition is doing in forging unity is worth applauding, but they should know that things will change as we inch closer to the next General Election. What they should avoid is tolerating anything that can destroy the country," cautioned Dr Oginga.

On the ongoing debate about the abolition of the National Government Constituency Development Fund, Dr Oginga differed with his older brother’s opinion that the kitty should be managed at the county government level.

“NG-CDF should remain, but it must be delinked from MPs. It should be restricted to the national government and earmarked for development in constituencies,” said Dr Oginga.

According to him, MPs are stuck with the fund because it gives them some form of political mileage as development-conscious people on the ground.
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