On Monday 21 August 2023, Siaya Senator Dr. Oburu Oginga shocked the nation with a sweeping statement that Ugunja MP James Opiyo Wandayi was best suited to inherit his brother Raila Amollo Odinga as the leader of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party and consequently the Luo Nation.
Oburu was speaking at a function held at the home of political comedian Austin Makamu wa Makumu in Ugenya and the news was gobbled up by the mainstream media and it became a topic of discussion for a whole month. Oburu argued that Peter Anyang’ Nyon’go and James Aggrey Bob Orengo were “too old” and it was therefore impractical to suggest their names as possible heirs to the purported throne his brother occupies.
Less than a month later on 4 September 2023 the Siaya Senator publicly retracted his statement at an official press briefing in Kisumu.
Oburu clarified that he had not anointed any politician as a Luo kingpin to take over from Raila.
“There is no political vacuum as yet to be filled by anyone. Raila is still firmly on the steering wheel and is doing good,” said the Siaya Senator, adding “We have many young and experienced old people who can still emerge. All of them have equal chances to lead.”
Supremacy war between Governor Orengo and Energy CS Wandayi has caused a rift among ODM Party supporters in Siaya. It has also brought into sharp focus Orengo’s development record. Collage: dalanews.co.ke
Although he made an about-turn and blamed the media for misquoting him, the damage had been done and even the name of Dr. Ida Odinga dragged-into the band of, alleged, endorsers for a Wandayi succession.
“It now appears that I endorsed Wandayi to take over from Raila, I did not,” said Oburu, painstakingly explaining “I only encouraged Wandayi to work hard. I did not anoint him. I said he is doing well and he is among those in Raila’s line to watch in future.’
For the maverick ODM Party diehard and erudite lawyer James Opiyo Wandayi the endorsement, albeit fleetingly, had opened the possibility of greater aspirations in his political journey.
Wandayi learnt early the power of influencing opinion using social media and employed some of the best political spin doctors, including political satirist Gabriel Oguda of the Nation and a number of influential bloggers such as Nicholas Gwadi, amongst a plethora of others.
Wandayi did well with his CDF allocations in Ugunja and for visual acuity was always in the frontline alongside members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Secretariat whenever there were opposition-led protests.
Little wonder that James Opiyo Wandayi got crucial endorsement by ODM Party for important committee and later cabinet positions.
It did not take long, however, for political ambition to get the better of him and in one of the misguided moments last year James Opiyo Wandayi called for a political rally outside the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Stadium in Siaya when Interior PS Raymond Omollo and Governor Orengo were conducting an inspection of the facility ahead of two head’s of states visit.
The rally was called for some mundane reason by Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Onunga Atandi who, allegedly had been cut off by the Siaya Executive from some lucrative tenders, but it revealed the immaturity of Wandayi when he agreed to tag along on a mission that would expose the simmering antagonism between Governor Orengo and himself.
Sources close to Wandayi begun revealing that Dr. Oburu had fronted him for Governor in 2022 but Jakom settled for his trenches mate, James Orengo.
In the intricate balance of power Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Onunga Atandi (second right) has been appointed the Chairman Budget and Appropriations Committee in the National Assembly. By attacking Orengo he, unwittingly, fails to recognize the interests of the appointing authority. Photo: X
Two-time loser in the Siaya gubernatorial race Nicholas Odero Gumbo (now Chairman of Sugar Board Authority) saw teaming up with Wandayi as an opportunity to launch a comeback and discreetly tugged the disgruntled Deputy Governor William Oduol Denge along.
The Alego-Usonga MP (who previous to the tender issues had been an ardent supporter of Orengo) now had a grudge and went around funerals casting aspersions on the drinking habits of the Governor.
Sincerely, not Atandi, Wandayi or Oburu could pinpoint credible fault with Governor Orengo’s development record in two years; so instead of criticizing the office of Governor they focused on character traits such as dancing ajawa and being a party animal (which most of them are).
[ For the record: Oburu had issues with the Governor, ostensibly, for dropping his son Jaoko who was a minister in Rasanga’s cabinet as a CECM. William Oduol and Samuel Atandi had a grudge for being sidelined. Wandayi suffers from the notion that the Governor stands between him and his chances of being ODM Party leader and possibly Luo kingpin. Gumbo itches, badly, for a rematch].
Social media keyboard warriors have run amok with the character discretion and for the first time in Kenya a visitor could easily be forgiven for thinking that the Siaya Governor is the only leader who imbibes alcohol in a nation of teetotalers!
Succession wars aside, has Governor Orengo failed or succeeded in the implementation of his 9-point political agenda?
Many people who criticize the Governor do not even recognize that the 9-point agenda or Nyalore manifesto is a domesticated version of the Azimio la Umoja ten-point development pillar. It derives alot from the failed BBI initiative which scholars and most thoughtful Kenyans agreed envisages the best policies for the country’s economic overhaul.
It would be fairer to judge the Governor’s performance on whether for the three years in office he has brought to fruitation the five key areas of the CIDP: namely water development, food security, health, education, trade and industrialization and tourism. If the scorecard is anything near 40% percent then the Governor has done fairly well, given that he has another two years ahead before the end of his first term, and a possible second term.
At the burial of the late Chairman of the Siaya Public Service Board, Elijah Achoch, Deputy Governor William Oduol claimed to have been attacked by goons organized by the area MP. Photo: SMG
That now brings us to the issue of succession, proper.
Kenya is historically governed by political zoning and bulcanisation. Each tribe has a distinctive affiliation to a political party which has well-demarcated, well-entrenched strongholds that resonate with them.
The party for Siaya and the Luo nation at large is the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party whose defacto figurehead is Raila Amollo Odinga, a resident of Opoda Farm in Gobeyi area of Bondo sub-County in Siaya County.
There’s no day that ODM Party will have a Governor in UDA Party strongholds such as Kericho, Elgeyo Marakwet or Nandi counties. These are the hard realities of Kenyan politics. And that’s why ODM Party must jealously protect it’s own turf and Siaya happens to be centrally placed as one of them.
Insiders say an incursion by UDA had been sniffed in Siaya and Raila had to sit down with Eliud Owalo for a chitchat before it dawned on the later that what Agwambo can see sitting, some politicians will never see climbing atop high-mast lighting.
“Raila is no emotional fool when he goes public and makes statements such as Orengo and Sifuna are speaking on behalf of ODM Party — he’s protecting ODM Party political territory.
And because so far, in Siaya, it’s only Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo who appears to see what Agwambo is seeing, it will be safe to assume that the duo will continue reciprocating support for each other.
In conclusion, if everything holds constant, James Aggrey Bob Orengo will have a second term, not just because he has experience and understands the ethos of Kenya’s politics but because, as the bickering continues his team should grab the opportunity to highlight his impressive development record.
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