Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi has said he will now take a more direct role in the politics of Siaya County, marking a clear shift in tone as divisions deepen within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) in the region.

Speaking on Saturday, May 30, 2026, during a meeting that brought together local leaders and residents, Wandayi said he had been silent for some time but would now become actively involved in county affairs, especially politics.

“This unity you see here means a lot for our people in Siaya County, and we are not going to disappoint our people,” he said.

“A number of people have been asking why I am quiet. I want to tell you that from now onwards you’ll be seeing me actively involved in the affairs of this county. Not just affairs, in the political affairs of this county.”

Wandayi stressed that after elections, the people of Siaya played their part by choosing leaders. If those leaders later chose to move away from the group, the county would not force them back.

“I said earlier on and let me repeat it for the avoidance of doubt, because once we did elections, we played our part as a people of this county, and if we elected you and you have chosen to depart from us we can’t force you to come back,” Wandayi said.

He added that Siaya County would continue moving forward as one unit, even if some leaders chose different political paths.

“Siaya County is going to move forward; it’s going to move forward in unison regardless of one or two fellows who have decided to go astray,” he said.

Governor race warning

Wandayi also focused on the importance of the governor’s position. He described it as central to development and leadership in the county. Residents must choose carefully in future elections and avoid repeating past mistakes.

“For that reason, as a people gathered here today, and many others were not here, we have resolved that we shall not make a mistake. We shall not make a mistake. I will personally not allow myself to be party to a situation where we make another mistake in this county,” he declared.

His strong words come against a background of sharp fights within ODM in western Kenya and Nyanza. Siaya Governor James Orengo, who leads the Linda Mwananchi faction, has clashed repeatedly with other senior party figures aligned to the main ODM leadership and the government.

Orengo has accused sections of the party of shifting loyalties, holding private meetings with President William Ruto, and effectively putting the party up for sale. These claims have deepened divisions and triggered public exchanges.

The tensions escalated further in recent weeks. On May 19, 2026, authorities abruptly withdrew Orengo’s entire personal security detail and the officers guarding his Nairobi residence. Orengo protested the move in a letter to the Inspector General of Police, calling it irregular, unprocedural, and politically motivated.

He linked it to his criticism of the national government and his active role in the opposition-leaning Linda Mwananchi movement. The incident left him exposed at a time when he faced other challenges, including violence during his political tour of Homa Bay County the following week.

Orengo’s convoy attacked

On May 29, 2026, Orengo’s convoy came under attack in Mbita, Rusinga, and Sindo. Assailants damaged vehicles, threw stones, set up roadblocks with burning tyres, and injured members of his team. Orengo blamed the incidents on political intolerance linked to Homa Bay leaders.

UDA officials and some ODM figures condemned the violence but pointed to Orengo’s own confrontational style as a factor in the rising temperatures.

These events highlight the bitter split inside ODM. Orengo questions the legitimacy of Oburu Oginga’s leadership and has positioned himself as the de facto party leader. Oburu, on the other hand, insists he followed proper party processes and has accepted mediation through Catholic Archbishop Emeritus Zacchaeus Okoth.

Other ODM leaders, including Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed, have also traded accusations with Orengo over party direction and alliances ahead of 2027.

Wandayi did not name individuals in his Siaya speech. Although he has previously focused on national duties, his firm promise to prevent another mistake in the choice of governor has fuelled speculation that he could position himself or back a candidate aligned against the current governor.