Siaya Governor James Orengo Denies Being Chased From Seme Burial

Siaya Governor James Orengo has rejected reports that he was forcibly requested to leave a burial ceremony in Seme, Kisumu County, insisting his departure was pre-planned and unrelated to the disorder that marred the event.

In a statement, Orengo has clarified that he and his delegation left the venue only after the presiding bishop and area MP James Nyikal had already departed to continue with the burial of his father.

“Contrary to the misreporting… we did not leave the venue because we were ‘chased.’ We departed because the presiding Bishop and Seme MP James Nyikal had already left to proceed with the burial of his father,” Orengo said.

He explained that his presence at the ceremony was solely to condole with the family of the late Eliud Nyikal Okaka, father to the Seme legislator.

“Our sole purpose was to offer condolences and stand in solidarity with the family,” Orengo said. He added that his team returned to Nairobi afterward in preparation for the East African Local Authorities Sports and Cultural Association (EALASCA) Festival, scheduled to begin Monday in Mombasa.

However, even as he denied claims of being chased away, Orengo strongly condemned the events that disrupted the burial.

The ceremony, intended as a solemn farewell, was instead disrupted by tensions that became so severe the clergy were forced to leave the service.

Orengo described the scenes as “both shameful and a national disgrace”, accusing unnamed parties of interference and deploying hired goons.

The Seme MP, whose father was being buried, pointed the finger at Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda.

Nyikal claimed Ojienda arrived at the venue with a group of youths who contributed to the commotion that interrupted proceedings.