Siaya Governor James Orengo has said he regrets ignoring Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga’s advice against picking William Oduol as his deputy.
Orengo and his deputy appeared before the Senate Devolution Committee on Wednesday, May 22, to respond to queries on the alleged mistreatment of Oduol by refusing to accept him back in office after he was exonerated by the Senate in June 2023 after the county assembly impeached him (Oduol).
“I regret ignoring the advice given to me by ODM party Leader Raila Odinga and Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga against choosing Oduol as my running mate during the 2022 General Election,” Orengo remarked.
The county boss told the devolution committee that reconciliation with his deputy governor was impossible.
In his arguments, Orengo told the committee chair Sheikh Abbas that William Oduol failed to acknowledge that he is a member of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and commit to following party rules.
“I experienced the consequences just after the election for the short time I left him to be in charge of the county as I pursued Raila’s presidential election petition,” he disclosed.
He explained that the situation placed him in a catch-22 situation because if he accepted to work with Oduol residents would resist because Siaya is an ODM stronghold. A party Orengo claimed the DG had disowned.
The circus in Siaya County began in May 2023 when 38 MCAs approved the motion to remove Oduol from office.
The ward representatives accused the DG of gross misconduct.
Oduol was later saved by the senate which reversed the decision by the county assembly to impeach him.
Oduol had accused Orengo of embezzling county funds. He exposed how millions were withdrawn from the county kitty without following proper procedure.
