Inside The ‘State-Sponsored’ Plot To Unseat Siaya Governor Orengo

Investigation reveals coordinated campaign to remove defiant ODM governor ahead of 2027 elections

Political tensions escalate as ruling coalition allegedly targets Raila ally over criticism of broad-based government

A shadowy campaign is underway to remove Siaya Governor James Orengo from office, with sources revealing a state-sponsored plot designed to punish the veteran politician for his relentless criticism of President William Ruto’s administration.

The elaborate scheme, orchestrated by high-level strategists within the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition, represents a calculated effort to silence one of the most vocal critics of the broad-based government arrangement that emerged following last year’s Gen Z protests.

Governor James Orengo and Raila Odinga at a past event.

Governor Orengo, a close ally of ODM leader Raila Odinga and a stalwart of opposition politics, has maintained his adversarial stance against the Ruto administration even as several of his party colleagues joined the government.

While Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi, Treasury CS John Mbadi, Mining CS Hassan Joho, and Cooperatives CS Wycliffe Oparanya accepted positions in Ruto’s cabinet, Orengo has remained defiant.

“Siaya governor must stop activism and focus on delivering services to the people who elected him,” declared Wandayi, signaling the growing pressure on his former ally.

The governor’s sustained attacks on the administration over corruption allegations, economic mismanagement, and human rights violations have reportedly made him a priority target for political neutralization.

According to sources within Nyanza political circles, the government is determined to “clip Orengo’s wings” ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The strategy involves multiple coordinated approaches:

Failed Impeachment Attempt

Initial efforts centered on impeachment proceedings through the Luo professional caucus.

However, this approach collapsed when Siaya MCAs failed to attend a crucial meeting at State House in Nairobi, demonstrating the governor’s local support base.

Movement for Democracy and Growth (MDG) party leader David Ochieng’, who also serves as Ugenya MP, has emerged as a potential challenger.

The former Orengo ally turned critic has publicly declared his readiness to contest the governorship.

“Raila has said that even if his votes were stolen, he had to join hands with President Ruto to help him stabilize the government,” Ochieng’ stated last week.

“Yet Governor Orengo continues to undermine him.”

High-level coordination

Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Siaya Senator Oburu Odinga having a light moment when the latter visited him in his office.

Energy CS Wandayi has reportedly been conducting strategic meetings in Nairobi, hosting key figures including Senator Oburu Oginga, David Ochieng’, former Minister Raphael Tuju, ex-Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, and Deputy Governor William Oduol. These gatherings are viewed as coordination sessions for the anti-Orengo campaign.

The plot against Orengo reflects deeper fissures within the Orange Democratic Movement. Senator Oburu Oginga, Raila’s elder brother, has been particularly critical, stating: “If he feels uncomfortable with ODM working with the government, then he can quit the party altogether.”

This represents a significant shift in the political dynamics that once defined unwavering loyalty within Raila’s inner circle.

Evidence of state involvement

Siaya County ODM Chairman Oloo Okanda confirmed awareness of the state-sponsored scheme.

“We have reliable information that there have been meetings to try to find a viable candidate to run against Orengo in 2027, yet the party leader, Raila Odinga, himself has declared that ODM remains in the opposition,” he revealed.

The revelation suggests direct government involvement in opposition party politics, raising questions about democratic governance and the independence of electoral processes.

Raila’s dilemma

ODM leader Raila Odinga finds himself in a delicate position, defending Orengo while maintaining his cooperation framework with President Ruto.

He has publicly supported Orengo, Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o, and ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna over their government criticism.

Last week, Odinga differed with his elder brother Oburu over ODM’s position, insisting he remains in opposition and is not part of the government.

ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna has dismissed the existence of a broad-based government, maintaining that ODM remains in opposition.

“I maintain that there is no government called broad-based. We have the Kenya Kwanza Government and all those who serve in it work for Ruto,” he declared.

Sifuna emphasized that the Memorandum of Understanding with UDA is merely “a cooperation framework designed for areas of joint interest and people’s issues.”

Political observers view the Siaya situation as emblematic of broader tensions within ODM as the party navigates internal realignments, state co-option, and shifting political dynamics following Raila’s post-2022 strategy.

The question remains whether the party can maintain cohesion or if internal dissent will lead to fragmentation ahead of the next general election.

The plot against Orengo represents more than a local political contest.

It embodies the struggle between political accommodation and principled opposition in Kenya’s evolving democratic landscape.

The outcome will likely influence whether critical voices can survive within parties that have entered cooperation arrangements with ruling coalitions.

As Governor Orengo has vowed to “fight for the Constitution even if it means losing his political seat,” the 2027 election cycle promises to be a defining moment for Kenya’s opposition politics and the future of democratic accountability.

The unfolding drama in Siaya serves as a microcosm of the broader challenges facing Kenya’s political opposition as it grapples with the temptations of power-sharing arrangements and the principles of democratic oversight.