James Orengo condemns arrest of staff ahead of Ruto’s Siaya visit
By Kenneth Mwenda, March 7, 2026Siaya Governor James Orengo has condemned the arrest of several members of his staff hours before President William Ruto’s scheduled visit to the county.
According to Governor Orengo, the police detained the staff members in Siaya and Nairobi on Saturday evening, March 7, 2026. Orengo claimed the arrests were linked to the president’s planned trip to Siaya, describing the action as unlawful and politically motivated.
In a statement posted on X, the governor criticised the police and demanded the immediate release of the detained officials.
“This evening several members of my staff have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in Siaya and Nairobi in connection with the presidential visit to Siaya tomorrow,” Orengo wrote.
He added that such actions do not belong in a democratic society.
“This egregious conduct on the part of the police has no place in a constitutional democracy. I demand their immediate release.”
The arrests came just hours before Ruto’s scheduled visit to the county, which is considered one of the strongholds of the opposition. Orengo, a long-time opposition politician and former senator, argued that the arrests raise serious concerns about respect for constitutional rights.
Tensions between Orengo and Ruto
The incident adds to the growing political tension between Orengo and the national government.
In recent months, the Siaya governor has openly criticised Ruto, particularly over claims that the president is interfering in the affairs of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). The dispute intensified after the death of ODM leader Raila Odinga in 2025.
Earlier in February, the Siaya governor claimed that the turmoil within the party stems from external pressure from State House.
“My first encounter with President William Ruto when he was elected as president was in a village in Ugenya at a place called Urenga, and I told him not to kill political parties because I could see this coming,” Orengo said.
He added, “The problem in ODM is President Ruto.”