By Lameck Baraza
Siaya County Deputy Governor William Oduol has joined other leaders in criticizing Governor James Orengo for refusing to embrace a broad-based government.
Oduol was speaking in Komenya Rabar on Saturday where he questioned how Orengo expects development in Siaya while opposing the very government responsible for advancing the county’s progress.
The deputy governor urged Orengo to prioritize service delivery over activism, stating that the time for fighting for rights has passed and leaders must now focus on tangible development.
"We all recognize Orengo’s role in the second liberation of this country, but that was then. The country is now stable, and what we need at this moment is development," Oduol said.
Oduol expressed frustration with Orengo’s stance on democracy, claiming that while he advocates for it at the national level, he has denied him space to serve the people of Siaya at the grassroots.
"Whenever I visit Siaya, I must come with tight security because Orengo has vowed to frustrate me as his deputy," Oduol stated.
He further accused Orengo of selfishness, alleging that since the death of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Orengo has not supported Raila Odinga in any meaningful way that benefits the people of Nyanza.
Oduol suggested that Orengo opposes the broad-based formation simply because he was not involved in the negotiations.
"What Orengo is engaging in is politics of deceit and anger just because he was not part of the process when the broad-based government was formed," He added.
He urged Orengo to separate his personal interests from governance and allow President William Ruto to drive development in Siaya rather than stalling the county’s progress.
According to Oduol, all Siaya leaders are currently supporting the broad-based government for the sake of development, but Orengo remains opposed, seemingly more interested in entertainment than governance.
Oduol and Orengo fell out last year when the governor sponsored an impeachment motion against him in the Senate.
During the proceedings, Oduol told senators that his efforts to curb financial mismanagement in Siaya County led to accusations against him and ultimately triggered his impeachment.
In November last year, Oduol disclosed that he had flagged substantial imprest withdrawals by acting Chief Finance Officer Jack Odinga, which violated the Public Finance Management Act and Central Bank regulations.
He alleged that the frequent, large withdrawals were an attempt to circumvent audit scrutiny.