Energy CS James Opiyo Wandayi might come to terms tonight with the fact that in trying to unseat Siaya Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo he might be punching above his weight category.
If the news circulating on social media is true, that Wandayi organized for a meeting between Members of the Siaya County Assembly with President Ruto, which meeting the MCAs have declined to attend, then Wandayi must engage in some quick thinking.
A polished political operator and a refined schemer, since he made up his mind that he will be taking on Orengo for the Siaya gubernatorial seat, Wandayi has been prone to several wrong turns.
Whoever his political advisors are they’ve shown ineptitude and fanciful thinking when they make the hitherto resourceful Wandayi make very obvious political gaffes.
For instance on the day the Interior PS Raymond Omollo was coming to inspect the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium in Siaya ahead of the presidential inauguration someone misadvised Wandayi to hold a political rally outside the stadium. For Orengo and the PS who continued the inspection tour unperturbed, Wandayi cast the forlorn figure of an infant struggling to attract attention.
James Opiyo Wandayi enjoys tremendous goodwill among the people of Siaya who are largely supporters of ODM Party, but the moment he teamed up with disgruntled politicians to discredit Orengo he lost favor and credibility. The people who are backing him to vie for governor are either too archaic to keep in tandem with the sentiments of the Siaya electoral votes grassroots or they are people whose avarice is known to voters.
Before Raila approved Kisumu Governor Peter Anyang’ Nyongo, James Opiyo Wandayi was a favorite to take over the chairmanship of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party. Wandayi had risen up to that stature. Now that he appears confused and bent on some obscure political vendetta the electorate are beginning to see him in a new light.
If indeed it’s true that the MCAs have snubbed his invitation to visit State House then Wandayi must not only wake up to the reality that with Orengo as a competitor he could easily get outclassed but also revamp his stable of advisors.
Having flown the national flag as a cabinet minister the bug of big things could have bitten him. The truth is that the Assembly and the Executive in Siaya under George Okode and Aggrey Orengo, respectively, functions in concert, and if truth be told Opiyo Wandayi is a rank outsider.
Another point he should take note of is that the governor wields clout even when outside the country.
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