- The Governor of Siaya, James Orengo, visited the State House to hand over ambulances and medical equipment from the WHO
- The visit comes a few days after Orengo criticized the government of President William Ruto during the funeral of Raila Odinga and during ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations
- Orengo stressed that Ruto, not ODM, needs the party before 2027 and urged the party to remain independent
Governor of Siaya, James Orengovisited the White House on Wednesday, November 19, along with other leaders.
Source: Facebook
He attended the handover of ambulances and essential medical equipment from the World Health Organization to seven national referral centers and the National Emergency Response Center at the Ministry of Health.
The event was presided over by the President William Ruto.
Orengo’s visit came just weeks after he publicly criticized the Ruto government during the funeral of former ODM leader Raila Odinga in Bondo, Siaya county on October 19.
Did Orengo criticize Ruto during Raila’s funeral?
At the funeral, Orengo remembered Raila’s resilience throughout his political journey and strongly condemned the way the 2017 presidential election was conducted.
In what was seen as a subtle taunt against Ruto and the former president Uhuru KenyattaOrengo claimed Raila’s votes were stolen in the flawed election.
He emphasized how Raila had sworn in as “the people’s president” in Uhuru Park after refusing to participate in the repeat elections.
A few weeks later, at ODM’s 20th anniversary celebrations in Mombasa, Orengo resumed his attack on the Ruto administration.
He criticized ODM members who he said were cooperating with the president under the government’s broad scheme, calling their actions “cowardly.”
Is Orengo ready to challenge Ruto’s government?
Orengo said that it is Ruto, not ODM, who needs the party before the 2027 elections.
He urged the party to remain independent, choose its own presidential candidate, and avoid being influenced by government ties. He also emphasized the need to unite the party and empower the youth to shape its future, echoing Raila’s legacy.
He reiterated his willingness to return to the streets to protest the government’s wrongdoings, citing police brutality against opposition supporters and the killing of a teacher. Albert Ojwang while in police custody.
Despite his earlier criticism, Orengo was caught chatting cheerfully with Ruto at the State House during the handover, showing good public manners.
Source: Facebook
When was the last time Orengo visited the State House?
Orengo’s latest visit to State House follows another high-profile engagement in June, when he led a delegation of Siaya county leaders to meet Ruto.
The meeting focused on ongoing and upcoming government projects aimed at accelerating growth and improving the lives of Siaya residents.
Ruto announced a major investment totaling more than KSh 5 billion for the county.
Plans included KSh 1 billion to develop the Usenge jetty and related port infrastructure to promote the blue economy, KSh 2.5 billion for 16 new markets across Siaya, and KSh 1.6 billion to connect more than 16,000 households to electricity.
The participation followed Orengo’s earlier criticism, where he insisted that national government-sponsored projects are constitutional rights for all counties, not political favoritism.
Read ENGLISH VERSION
Do you have an exciting story that you would like us to publish? Please contact us via news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
