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I cannot be intimidated, says Orengo over BBI Bill stand

Friday, May 7th, 2021 00:00 | By
Siaya Speaker rejects Orengo's Cabinet list over missed details about nominees
Siaya Governor James Orengo. Photo/PD/FILE

Hillary Mageka @hillarymageka

Senate Minority Leader James Orengo yesterday lashed out at his critics, saying he will not be whipped into submission to betray his conscience. 

In an apparent reference to the turmoil being witnessed in ODM, Orengo said Kenya is a very democratic country and he will continue speaking his mind. 

Dismissing his political detractors, Orengo said he will continue performing his duties as senator and as a representative of the people of his county.

“I can never be intimidated in my political life. I’ve seen many people come and go. I’ve seen many powerful people come and go,” Orengo said yesterday during a Senate session on the impeachment of Wajir Governor Mohamed Abdi Mohamud.

“I have seen presidents come here and go. I have seen people who on their word, you’d leave this House and be locked in the same day, they’ve come and gone,” he added.

Going back to history, Orengo named influential individuals that went against the government but left with their conscience intact.

“I’ve seen much respected women such as Grace Onyango, who was in the committee for the special investigations relating to the disappearance of JM Kariuki. And that lady made me very proud and she stood firm,” he narrated.

The Minority Leader said the Senate is an important House with an enormous duty, adding that senators should never allow themselves to be intimidated. 

Stand firm 

“We’ve got a heavy task. And if people out there feel you can be intimidated and you’ve been brought to this House with all the powers that we have including trial of a governor,” he said as he urged senators to stand firm on their decision.

Orengo chided those try ingto muzzle the voices of those who they don’t agree with their opinion, and equated them to behaving like a nation of beasts.

“If my day comes, I will accept it, but my conscience, the way I was brought up I can never sell it, I would never,” he said.

He went on: “Imagine next time you may have a motion for the trial of a president, will you be intimidated?

So I urge you, for the future of this country, in the performance of your constitutional duties, never be intimidated.”

Orengo has been in the eye of the storm in the recent past after he was accused of going against the party position on the Constitutional (Amendment) Bill 2020, popularly known as the BBI Bill.

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