Raila Issues Statement After Rumours of Orengo Ouster

ODM party leader Raila Odinga (left) and Siaya Senator James Orengo.
ODM party leader Raila Odinga (left) and Siaya Senator James Orengo.
File

ODM leader Raila Odinga has dispelled rumors that Senator James Orengo will be replaced as the Leader of Minority in the Senate.

A statement signed by Odinga's personal assistant Dennis Onyango indicated that the party had no plans to replace Orengo as the Leader of Minority in the Senate.

"Following changes effected on Wednesday to the representation of the Orange Democratic Movement in the Justice and Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, there have been unfounded and widespread speculation that the Party is about to change its Minority leadership in the Senate."

“We wish to clarify that Rt. Hon Raila Odinga, the ODM Party Leader and the Orange Democratic Movement have no plans to replace Senator James Orengo as the Leader of Minority in the Senate," reads the statement.

Siaya Senator James Orengo speaking during the disbursement of Gem CDF bursaries in Wagai on Monday, February 19.
Siaya Senator James Orengo speaking during the disbursement of Gem CDF bursaries in Wagai on Monday, February 19.
File

A section of Kenyans and politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto had speculated that Orengo would be next on the ODM purge for being a rebel.

"I know exactly what SC Hon. James Orengo feels. I have been there. You know you are right but you are still torn between standing by your principles and surviving. I didn’t know that opposition too eats its own people," Elgeyo Marakwet senator Kipchumba Murkomen stated.

Orengo had reportedly been labelled a traitor due to his change of tune on the BBI bill. He had questioned the authenticity of the document released to the public.

He also poked holes in the legality as well as distribution of the proposed 70 new constituencies.

On Tuesday, Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo was kicked out of the powerful Justice and Legal Affairs Committee (JLAC).

"The vicissitudes of politics. So, the schemers want me out of JLAC. I will take it in grace and stride," stated Amollo.

There have been internal wrangles within the party that risk causing delays or the collapse of the Building Bridges Initiative. 

ODM Director of Communications Philip Etale, in a statement, had confirmed that some of its senior leaders were reading from different scripts with regard to the contents of the BBI Bill.

An undated file image of Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.
An undated file image of Rarieda MP Otiende Amollo.