Wamuzi News Ke
A political and administrative crisis has erupted in Siaya County as Governor James Orengo remains mysteriously absent for over a month, with no official communication or transfer of power to Deputy Governor William Oduol. As the county reels in uncertainty, urgent questions are being raised about governance, legality, and the looming threat of service delivery collapse.
Sources within the county government confirm that Governor Orengo left the country in June for what is being described as a “private trip.” Shockingly, he has not handed over any official responsibilities to his deputy. Meanwhile, Deputy Governor Oduol has come forward with startling claims: he has been barred from cabinet meetings, stripped of key privileges, and is effectively locked out of office.
“There’s no leadership. The county is on autopilot. Services are stalling, decisions are not being made, and the people are suffering,” Oduol said in a press briefing that has since set off alarm bells both locally and nationally.
In Orengo’s absence, County Assembly Speaker George Okode has been stepping in to represent the county in public functions, but without formal authority, further blurring the lines of constitutional governance. Legal experts are warning that failure to delegate duties during prolonged absence may violate the County Governments Act and the Constitution.
This power vacuum comes at a dangerous time for Siaya. Key departments—especially in finance, health, and infrastructure—are said to be operating without clear leadership, and county employees are reportedly confused about who is actually in charge.
The situation is intensifying old political wounds, with the strained relationship between Orengo and Oduol resurfacing. Their fallout, which nearly led to Oduol’s impeachment last year, now threatens to plunge the entire county into deeper dysfunction.
As the silence from Orengo grows louder and the deputy remains boxed out, residents are left to wonder: Who is running Siaya County? And for how much longer can it afford to run on empty?
