President William Ruto dropped a bombshell during a hush-hush meeting with Siaya MCAs at Eldoret State Lodge: “Tell Orengo to look for me.” The directive, delivered with trademark flair, aims to lure Governor James Orengo into the fold, as Ruto ramps up his charm offensive in this ODM heartland.
The January 10 powwow, orchestrated by Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi and Siaya Speaker George Okode, was billed as a development sprint session. But insiders spill it was pure politics – Ruto courting the grassroots to sidestep Orengo’s fierce opposition stance. No invite for the governor? That’s the spark igniting whispers of a county coup.
MCAs, fresh from the talks, gushed about fast-tracked roads, water projects, and farm boosts under Ruto’s Bottom-Up agenda. “We’re the boots on the ground,” one MCA quipped anonymously. “National policies hit home through us.” Photos of the group grinning with Ruto went viral, painting a picture of unity – minus Orengo.
The president’s message? Crystal clear. Multiple MCAs confirmed: relay the olive branch to Orengo, the “Walking Constitution” who’s blasted Ruto’s broad-based government as an “abomination.” Orengo’s been warning ODM cabinet picks to watch their backs, sans a formal pact with UDA. Now, with Wandayi in Ruto’s inner circle and Oburu Odinga threatening to torpedo Orengo’s 2027 bid, the governor’s cornered.
Flashback: Orengo’s dodged Ruto’s Nyanza tours before, vowing to crush “rebels.” Last June, MCAs dangled impeachment if he snubbed State House. Analysts say this is Ruto’s playbook – deal direct with assemblies, deliver wins, and flip voters in Siaya’s ODM stronghold.
The stakes? Sky-high. Orengo engages, he risks his base branding him a sellout. He resists, and development stalls – or worse, impeachment looms. As 2027 looms, Siaya’s political chessboard is heating up. Will Orengo pick up the phone? Watch this space – the battle for Nyanza’s loyalty just got personal.
