Siaya Governor James Orengo moves to reboot his communication engine with the appointment of George Adeya—but can he tame a notoriously turbulent press office?
Siaya Governor James Orengo on Thursday appointed Mr. George Adeya as the new Director of the Governor’s Press Unit, a strategic move aimed at tightening message discipline, sharpening political communication, and salvaging control of a nosediving popularity narrative.
The appointment was announced in a press release by County Secretary Joseph Ogutu, who said Adeya will play a central role in projecting the Governor’s leadership and achievements, while working closely with the Directorate of Public Communication to deliver consistent, timely, and credible messaging.
Adeya brings to the role solid experience unmatched zest, and hard-nosed political messaging, having served as an Information Officer since 2023. During that period, he earned a reputation for sound judgment, loyalty, and an instinctive grasp of government priorities—often acting as a frontline defender of the Governor’s agenda in the unforgiving arena of social media.
Congratulating the appointee, Chief Officer for Governance, Administration and ICT Walter Okelo described Adeya’s elevation as well-earned.
“Mr. Adeya’s appointment is a testament to his exemplary service and vision. I am confident he will steer the Governor’s Press Unit to greater heights.”
Chief of Staff, Rtd. Col. Cyrus Oguna, echoed the optimism:
“Congratulations, George! Your appointment brings fresh energy and expertise to this critical role. We look forward to impactful leadership.”
Similarly, Director of Public Communication Chrispine Omondi hailed the appointment as timely and strategic:
“Ja’Randago, congratulations on your well-deserved appointment. Your leadership will greatly enhance transparent, timely, and inspiring communication with the public.”
Yet behind the warm words lies a less flattering reality. The Governor’s Press Unit has long been regarded as a political minefield—a hotbed of intrigue, turf wars, and quiet backstabbing.
The office’s volatility first came into sharp focus with the resignation of Ben Agina, the first Director under Orengo, whose tenure became untenable amid internal power struggles. His successor fared little better. Victor Marende, a loyalist from Orengo’s Senate days, operated largely from Nairobi, presiding over a period marked by incompetence in media handling —most notably the underperformance associated with the Governor’s X (formerly Twitter) account before intervention by Diblo.
At the heart of the dysfunction is a chronic lack of role clarity. The Director of the Governor’s Press Unit—a political appointee overseeing protocol officers—has often overshadowed the Director of Public Communication, who runs a professional but underfunded department that many insiders say is routinely sidelined. Complaints raised internally, including to the Chief Officer in charge, have allegedly been ignored. Even the Governor’s itinerary has been a source of friction, with overlapping roles between the Press Director and the Governor’s personal aide.
While George Adeya is not formally trained in public relations, even critics concede his zest, diligence, and political acumen. A former aide to Alego-Usonga MP Samuel Atandi, Adeya rose from the ranks of political operatives promoted to Information Officer—a group once dismissed as mere chanters of “Nyalore” at funerals.
But Adeya stood out. Using a modest but growing understanding of PR, he carved a niche on social media, becoming a familiar and formidable voice among Siaya’s online keyboard warriors. His measured yet combative defense of Governor Orengo won respect from both admirers and detractors, marking him as more than just another loyal foot soldier.
Adeya’s appointment underscores the Nyalore administration’s push to rebuild a robust, credible, and responsive communication framework aligned with devolved governance priorities. His elevation is widely seen as a chance to finally stabilize an office that has undermined more than it has amplified the Governor’s agenda.
Whether George Adeya can professionalize a politicized office, mend internal fractures, and harmonize messaging across competing departments remains the big question. What is certain is this: few appointments in Siaya politics at this time come with higher expectations—or sharper scrutiny.
