Siaya race keeps Orengo away from national stage
Facing stiff competition in the Siaya governor race, Senator James Orengo has retreated to the grassroots to campaign for the seat.
The intensity of the campaign could explain why the senator has not featured prominently in ODM leader Raila Odinga’s presidential campaigns.
Orengo, who is one of Raila’s most trusted lieutenants, has been conspicuously missing in Azimio La Umoja activities countrywide in the past two weeks.
While he won the last two elections – for the Senate – without much struggle, there are strong indications that the governor’s race will not be a walk in the park for him.
Orengo has stated that he is not leaving anything to chance in the contest to replace outgoing Governor Cornel Rasanga.
“Over the years I have had the pleasure of working for my people in the National Assembly and now the Senate. It’s time to retreat home,’’ he said.
Orengo is facing competition from former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo and former Police Spokesman Charles Owino.
Also in the race is a former United Nations senior official Bella Akinyi who runs Bolena Fish Farm in Kogwari Beach.
Although some ODM leaders would have wished Orengo to play politics at the national arena, the Senator says he has made up his mind to run for governorship.
“I have made the decision not retreat. I will be based at home to serve the people, initiate and implement local development projects,” he said.
ODM deputy leader Wycliffe Oparanya is among those who have tried to persuade Orengo to remain at the Senate. But he has remained adamant.
Owino has also been asking Orengo to go for senate reelection saying he was more of a politician than a manager.
But Owino has also accused the senator of not performing well in his oversight of the outgoing administration.
“If people are blaming Rasanga for messing up the county resources, they don’t know who to attack. It’s the Senate charged with the oversight role,” Owino said.
During Azimio La Umoja campaigns in Ugunja two weeks ago, Orengo dismissed his critics’ claims that he was better suited for national politics than being a governor.
Gumbo is banking on what, he says, are good governance skills and his record as MP for Rarieda for a decade, from 2007 to 2017.
“I have identified a number of development projects in fishing to agriculture to roads and education sectors that I will dwell on to better lives,” said Gumbo who is expected to vie under an Azimio affiliated party. He ran as independent in 2017 after falling out with Raila.
Akinyi is yet to formalise her candidature, but says that if elected governor, her focus will be on aquaculture farms given the county’s proximity to Lake Victoria.
“The freshwater lake holds huge potential to provide us with increased amounts of healthy and nutritious food and this will ensure food security,” she said.
She has also pledged to promote agribusiness which, she said, would strengthen the local economy, food security and nutrition. “I am disturbed about people languishing in poverty. If I win, I will improve the quality of life in many homes.”
Owino, Akinyi and Orengo are expected to fight it out for the ODM ticket.
Most Siaya MPs back Orengo’s candidature. The latest is Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi who dropped out of the governor’s race last year.
Wandayi and Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda had been cagey on who they support but have since declared their support for the senator.
Last weekend, Ochanda said Orengo has what it takes to deliver and vowed to back him.
East Africa Legislative Assembly MP Oburu Oginga is also backing Orengo. Oburu wants to succeed Orengo in the Senate.
