Siaya Leaders’ State House Meeting Cancelled Over Plans To Exclude Governor Orengo

A high-level meeting between President William Ruto and political leaders from Siaya County scheduled for Wednesday has been abruptly cancelled amid allegations of attempts to sideline Governor James Orengo.

The State House meeting, which was aimed at discussing development priorities for Siaya County, was postponed indefinitely on Tuesday, just a day before it was set to take place.

Multiple sources familiar with the situation indicate that tensions arose after reports emerged that certain leaders had planned to exclude Governor Orengo from the crucial talks.

The governor, known for his critical stance toward the Kenya Kwanza administration, has reportedly faced growing isolation attempts despite being the county’s top elected official.

“We were informed of the postponement on Tuesday,” confirmed Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, who was among those expected to attend the meeting. MP Ochanda denied claims that a preparatory meeting held on Sunday was intended to exclude Orengo, stating that “the governor was out of the country at the time.”

The Sunday preparatory session, convened by Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi with several Siaya MPs in attendance, had focused on establishing agenda priorities ahead of the State House engagement.

Wandayi hosting former Siaya gubernatorial candidate Nicolas Gumbo recently in his office.

“What we were doing on Sunday was to firm up some of the projects we wanted the national government to prioritise. We wanted to be clear on what to present to the President,” Ochanda explained.

The cancellation highlights the growing political divide in Siaya following the recent partnership between Raila Odinga’s ODM party and President Ruto’s administration.

Governor Orengo has maintained his position as a vocal critic of the Kenya Kwanza government, consistently calling for greater accountability.

In a significant development that underscores the widening rift, Governor Orengo recently sent a formal letter to President Ruto requesting a separate meeting to discuss county matters.

“The purpose of the meeting is to engage you on key development matters affecting Siaya County and to explore collaborative pathways through which the national government and the county government can work together,” Orengo stated in his letter.

Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga has publicly defended Orengo at least twice in April against attempts to undermine his leadership position within the county.

As political tensions continue to simmer in Siaya, it remains unclear when or if the State House meeting will be rescheduled, and whether all elected leaders from the region will be included in future discussions.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​