Siaya Governor James Orengo believes that if the Mt. Kenya region had heeded former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s advice, the country would have avoided its current turmoil. Speaking on Wednesday, April 1, 2024, during the funeral of former Kirinyaga Senator Daniel Karaba, the governor criticized the current administration while reflecting on the 2022 General Election.
Orengo argued that the region missed a strategic opportunity by rejecting Uhuru’s endorsement of the late Raila Odinga. Instead of backing the former prime minister, voters in the mountain region overwhelmingly supported William Ruto, who served as Uhuru’s deputy at the time.
According to Orengo, a victory for the Raila-Martha Karua ticket would have created a “win-win” scenario for Mt. Kenya. He pointed out that following Raila’s death in 2025, Karua – as the sitting Deputy President – would have naturally ascended to the presidency, placing a leader from the region at the helm of the nation.
“Mnajua nyinyi watu wa mlima mngesikia Uhuru wakati ule hatungekuwa na hii taabu,” Orengo told the crowd.
Addressing Uhuru directly, the governor quipped that the individuals currently causing the split were originally brought into the fold by the retired president himself. The remark drew a laugh from Uhuru, but Orengo pressed on, urging him to “smoke them out” since he introduced them to the political stage.
Orengo also turned his attention to the internal state of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which has fractured into two factions: Linda Mwananchi and Linda Ground.
He noted that the late Raila Odinga had previously warned party members against chanting “Tutam” or discussing President William Ruto’s re-election campaign. Despite this, Orengo claimed that certain party members, whom he labeled as “merchants” (wafanyabiashara), continue to do so. He predicted their downfall, asserting that the country has turned against the president and now supports the Wantam movement.
Furthermore, Orengo accused President Ruto of attempting to hijack ODM in the same way he targeted the Jubilee Party. He described these efforts as a bid to “buy” the organization but vowed that the Linda Mwananchi team would block any such takeover.
The governor urged the mourners and residents of Kirinyaga to deny the president any political peace in the remaining months leading up to the general election.
