Oburu urges Orengo to focus on service delivery, strengthen ties with national govt
By Viola Kosome, June 26, 2026Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Oginga has urged Siaya Governor James Orengo to shift his focus to addressing the county’s development challenges instead of engaging in political exchanges, saying residents are grappling with poor services and delayed salaries.
Speaking in Kisumu on June 26, 2026, Oburu said the governor should prioritise improving roads, water supply, healthcare, and the welfare of county workers, who he said have endured repeated industrial action over delayed pay.
“I would also like to plead with my governor, James Orengo, that he is crying in the wilderness up there, and he has left his people suffering without good roads, without good water, without good health, without salaries, even for the small workers and the nurses,” Oburu said.
He added that frequent strikes by healthcare workers and other county employees reflected the need for urgent intervention by the county administration.
Cooperation between county and national government
Oburu further called for stronger cooperation between the county and the national government, saying the Constitution envisions an effective intergovernmental relationship that should be used to accelerate development.
“Calm down on your table and work for our people. And because of the intergovernmental relationship, we should create a good relationship, because that is what the Constitution provides,” he said.
He urged the governor to leverage cordial relations with the national government to secure more development projects for Siaya while ensuring county resources are managed prudently for the benefit of residents.
“What you can get for us from the national government, you bring. And what you can also get from the share of the counties, you also use prudently so that our people can get good development,” he said.
Oburu also responded to remarks attributed to Governor Orengo, suggesting he had not endured the struggles associated with Kenya’s pro-democracy movement.
“Instead of talking and saying that I have never suffered, I have never eaten tear gas. You don’t know how many tear gases I have eaten since the time I’ve been in politics,” he said.
Oburu revealed that his long political career had exposed him to numerous hardships, adding that he would not be drawn into personal attacks despite the differences.
“I have eaten so much tear gas that perhaps maybe there is something else driving you to talk about me like that,” he said.
Oburu maintained that his political approach does not involve attacking individuals, saying he preferred to focus on issues affecting wananchi rather than personal disputes.
“I don’t want to say anything that I know about you, because I know more than I should say, and I am not used to attacking individuals. That is not my politics,” he said.