Orengo Defends State House Visit, Cites Duty to Siaya Residents
Siaya Governor James Orengo has defended his decision to attend a meeting at State House last year, saying the move was guided by constitutional responsibility and the need to serve residents of his county rather than any shift in political loyalty.
Orengo, a founding member of the Orange Democratic Movement, attended the meeting in November alongside county officials and Members of the County Assembly. The discussions were chaired by President William Ruto. The visit prompted questions because of Orengo’s previous criticism of the administration, but he said his presence was based on governance considerations rather than partisan alignment.
Speaking during a radio interview on 5 March, Orengo said elected leaders must balance party affiliation with their constitutional obligations. He explained that leaders are expected to prioritise the needs of the people they represent. According to him, a governor’s work requires engagement with the political realities of the time in order to ensure effective administration.
He said political parties play an important role in shaping national debate and sponsoring candidates, but they cannot override a leader’s duty to deliver services at the county level. Orengo also pointed to constitutional provisions that require cooperation between national and county governments.
He said decisions made by the national administration inevitably affect counties, making engagement necessary to safeguard devolution and secure fair distribution of resources. He added that he would continue to engage the national government when there is a clear and appropriate need to do so.
At the same time, Orengo warned of what he described as signs of an “imperial presidency”. He expressed concern that increasing numbers of leaders seeking favour at State House could undermine fairness in the allocation of resources.
He urged vigilance to ensure that county governments are not disadvantaged by patronage politics.
