Siaya County Secretary Joseph Ogutu on Monday moved swiftly to quash a viral letter purporting that Governor James Aggrey Bob Orengo had resigned on medical grounds.
Speaking from the County Headquarters, Mr. Ogutu categorically dismissed the letter as a “malicious fabrication with no basis in fact,” insisting that Governor Orengo remains in office and will resume his duties soon.
“No resignation has occurred — and this is official,” Mr. Ogutu said.
Mr. Joseph Ogutu, Siaya County Secretary. Photo: Samson Wire
His remarks came just hours before the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Party Secretariat issued a parallel statement denouncing the document as fake. The party described the resignation letter, which had been widely circulated online earlier in the day, as a fraudulent forgery bearing fake stamps and urged the public to ignore it.
The letter, dated August 4, 2025, falsely claimed that Governor Orengo had stepped down immediately due to poor health and had initiated a “smooth transition” to his unnamed successor. But both county and party officials are unanimous: there has been no resignation, no illness declaration, and no transition plan underway.
Despite the firm denials, questions persist over the governor’s whereabouts. While some sources within the administration suggest Governor Orengo is on a private trip, he has not been seen in public since June 26, and major news outlets report his last confirmed appearance was on June 23, when he attended a Senate Public Accounts Committee session in Nairobi.
The prolonged absence has triggered concern and speculation in equal measure. A formal petition by Siaya resident Julius Oluoch now accuses both Governor Orengo and his Deputy, William Oduol, of dereliction of duty—specifically, for the failure to approve the 2025/2026 county budget.
Adding to the controversy, County Assembly Speaker George Okode has occasionally stepped in to handle executive functions. Critics say this contravenes the constitutional separation of powers and reflects a worrying vacuum at the top of county leadership.
An ODM official suggested the forged letter may be part of a wider political scheme, possibly orchestrated by individuals eyeing the Siaya gubernatorial seat in the upcoming 2027 general elections.
“This is not the first time the Governor has been away for a month,” one ODM official noted. “But the mischief around this particular absence is what’s telling.”
Online rumours — including unverified claims of poisoning — have further muddied the waters, even as official channels urge restraint and factual reporting.
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