Siaya Governor James Orengo has dismissed claims that political leaders supporting families of victims killed during anti-government protests are being manipulated and driven by political interests.

Speaking in a press briefing on Sunday, June 21, 2026, Orengo insisted that leaders allied to the cause did not initiate the legal petitions or organise families to seek justice but merely responded to requests for support from those affected by the tragic events.

“We are not hijacked. The petitions are not in our hands. The notices are not in our hands. We did not organise them to go to Jogoo House,” Orengo said.

The governor explained that families of those who lost their lives during the demonstrations had reached out to leaders for assistance and accompaniment in their pursuit of justice.

“They appealed to us to accompany them to Jogoo House,” he stated.

Orengo further revealed that he and other leaders have maintained close contact with the bereaved families, visiting them in their homes and attending burial ceremonies across different parts of the country.

Orengo visits victims’ families

He cited the case of Rex Masai, one of the young protesters who was killed during the demonstrations in Nairobi. According to Orengo, he personally travelled to Machakos to visit the family and offer his condolences.

“I have gone right up to Machakos to visit the family of Rex Masai,” he said.

The governor also mentioned Erickson, another victim who lost his life during the protests, noting that his home is located close to that of Rex Masai.

Orengo said he has also visited the family of Kennedy and remained engaged with other families affected by the violence.

“In Siaya, during the demonstrations, we lost a lot of people based in Nairobi, here in Kisumu, in Busia and in Nakuru. We had to go to their homes during the burials,” he said.

The veteran politician maintained that the engagement with the families is driven by compassion and solidarity rather than political interests, adding that leaders have continued to stand with the victims’ relatives as they seek accountability and justice.

Orengo has emphasised that the families’ quest for justice remains their own initiative and should not be misconstrued as a politically orchestrated campaign.

Ruto cautions Kenyans against protests

Orengo’s sentiments come days after the government cautioned against any form of chaos, destruction of property, or disruption of essential services ahead of next week’s anniversary of the June 25 anti-government protests.

Speaking on Friday during the National Productivity and Performance Conference at the Kenya School of Government in Nairobi, the president said the country must remain committed to order, productivity, and national development even as citizens exercise their democratic freedoms.

“We are a country that believes viciously in order; we are a civilised nation, we are an organised society, and we believe in the rule of law,” Ruto said.

He emphasised that while the government will protect the right to protest, such freedoms must not interfere with the country’s economic and social stability.

“It is right for every citizen who has an issue to petition or to protest, and we must protect their right to do so,” he said, warning that any attempt to mobilise unrest or destroy property would not be tolerated,” he added.