Editor’s Note:
Siaya Governor James Orengo faces a political identity crisis as ODM grapples with Ruto’s unity agenda. Can he preserve Raila’s legacy amid Gen Z disruption and Kalonzo’s resurgence?
Siaya Governor James Orengo is walking a political tightrope, caught between defending his opposition heritage and adapting to Kenya’s evolving political reality under President William Ruto.
Once a fearless champion of democracy, Orengo’s political instinct is now tested by a new wave of realignment within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which continues to navigate a delicate cooperation pact with Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking in Bondo at Raila Odinga’s Opoda Farm, Orengo issued a stark warning:
“Sisi kama ODM, msifanye makosa ya kumezwa. In a strong Kenya to come, we need a strong Wiper and a strong ODM — not controlled by those in power.”
His words reflected more than caution — they echoed the anxiety of an opposition veteran watching the movement he helped build being redefined by collaboration politics.
Orengo and Stephen Kalonzo Musyoka stand among the last of the country’s second liberation heroes, figures whose political clout was cemented through defiance and idealism. They fought for democracy, human rights, and multiparty politics when it was dangerous to do so.
Yet in 2025, the ground beneath their feet is shifting. The Gen Z generation — bold, digital-savvy, and impatient with traditional politics — is rewriting the rules of political engagement.
“Orengo and Kalonzo are the last of a breed that fought from the trenches of democracy,” observes political analyst Dr. Samson Odhiambo. “But politics today rewards pragmatism, not defiance.”
As Orengo champions purity of opposition, younger leaders like Edwin Sifuna and Babu Owino have chosen a more tactical approach — fighting from within the system while maintaining reformist energy that resonates with the online generation.
Following Raila Odinga’s death in October, ODM has been split between two paths — one seeking to sustain cooperation with Ruto until 2027, and another calling for a clean break.
Orengo belongs to the latter camp, wary of ODM’s identity being diluted by UDA’s political dominance. On the other hand, Oburu Odinga, Junet Mohammed, and Gladys Wanga argue that Raila’s partnership with Ruto was strategic — aimed at stability, not surrender.
This ideological tug-of-war is defining Kenya’s post-Raila opposition. While Orengo’s voice remains strong, his influence is increasingly challenged by generational and structural change.
The Gen Z movement has transformed how political dissent operates. No longer confined to party halls or rallies, opposition now thrives on Twitter Spaces, TikTok, and digital protests.
During the 2024 protests, young Kenyans openly dismissed veteran politicians, accusing them of “handshake politics.” In this new terrain, charisma and credibility are measured in viral moments, not historic speeches.
Sifuna and Babu Owino have successfully bridged this gap, positioning themselves as digital-era reformers. Orengo, however, seems trapped between nostalgia and necessity — torn between preserving opposition purity and embracing pragmatic evolution.
Orengo cannot fit in the newly mooted Matiang’i-Gachagua opposition matrix and his only hope of relevance in opposition is to tie renewed nuptial strings with trenches mate Kalonzo.
With the 2027 General Election approaching, Kenya’s political chessboard is realigning fast. Orengo’s recent endorsement of Kalonzo Musyoka at Kang’o ka Jaramogi signaled an effort to rally the old guard — but it also highlighted their waning relevance.
Political historians predict that by 2027, Kenya’s traditional opposition model may be replaced by hybrid activism — a mix of institutional engagement and online mobilization led by the youth.
“The youth no longer wait for liberation; they livestream it,” quipped a senior ODM insider, underscoring the fading grip of the liberation-era elite.
Orengo’s warning against ODM being “swallowed” by UDA may be politically sound — but in the new Kenya, the audience has changed.
James Orengo’s predicament mirrors that of Kenya’s traditional opposition — caught between ideals and adaptation. As he balances loyalty to Raila’s legacy with the realities of Ruto’s inclusive politics, one thing is clear:
The age of firebrand politics is ending, and the next liberation will be digital.
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