In a surprising turn after months of strong criticism, Siaya County Governor James Orengo has written to President William Ruto, seeking a meeting to discuss development projects for his county and promote cooperation, according to a letter obtained by Business Today.
In the letter dated April 17, 2025, Orengo, a key opposition figure, invited Ruto to a “consultative development meeting” with a delegation of Siaya leaders, including cabinet secretaries, MPs, county assembly members, and his executive team.
The proposed talks, he said, aim to align national and county government efforts to boost socio-economic growth in Siaya, a stronghold of the opposition Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
“The purpose is to engage on key development matters affecting the county and explore collaborative pathways to accelerate progress for our people,” Orengo wrote, enclosing a list of ongoing national government projects in Siaya and additional initiatives his administration seeks support for.
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The governor suggested the last week of April for the meeting but expressed flexibility to accommodate Ruto’s schedule. He framed the request as a step towards national unity, inclusivity, and service delivery for Siaya and Kenya at large.
The move comes amid tensions within ODM over its evolving ties with the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Orengo, a vocal critic of Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza government, has openly challenged the president’s policies and ODM’s recent cooperation with UDA.
At the recent funeral of ODM leader Raila Odinga’s bodyguard, attended by Ruto, Orengo rallied supporters to “stand up and fight for their rights,” insisting he would not mute his criticism, yet they fought for a democratic constitution where people are supposed to speak freely.
His request also comes after mixed signals from within ODM. Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi recently assured President Ruto of the region’s support for Odinga’s cooperation with the government, dismissing critics as not speaking for the party.
Odinga himself, addressing the debate two weeks ago via his spokesman, Dennis Onyango, acknowledged varied interpretations of ODM’s broad-based agreement with Ruto.
The former Prime Minister said the political marriage is meant to prioritise unity and stability following 2024’s youth-led protests, and it is directed at tackling issues like debt, corruption, and unemployment while strengthening devolution.
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