Siaya Governor James Orengo has launched a scathing attack on President William Ruto, accusing him of interfering in the affairs of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and destabilising the party from within.

Speaking on Thursday, February 12, 2026, during a press conference to address the ouster of Secretary General Edwin Sifuna, Orengo dismissed critics of the Nairobi Senator as “mere minions” lacking national legitimacy and insisted that Sifuna remains a true voice of the party.

“I shudder to think that mere minions, people who have no legitimacy in the entire country, can dare talk about Sifuna. He speaks for the party,” Orengo said.

Cautioning Ruto

Orengo revealed that he had previously cautioned President Ruto against undermining political parties, recounting an early encounter shortly after Ruto’s election.

The Siaya governor went further, directly blaming President Ruto for the turmoil rocking ODM.

“My first encounter with President William Ruto when he was elected as president was in a village in Ugenya at some place called Urenga, and I told him, and if you watch the speeches I have made where President Ruto is, I have implored him not to kill political parties, because I could see this coming. The problem in ODM is President Ruto,” Orengo remarked.

Gov. James Orengo: I shudder to think that mere minions, people who have no legitimacy in the entire country, can dare talk about Sifuna. He speaks for the party. The problem in ODM is President Ruto.#K24Siasa pic.twitter.com/uIkyL2XzQv

— K24TV (@K24Tv) February 12, 2026

Osotsi blames Oburu

During the same press conference, Vihiga Senator and ODM Deputy Party Leader Godfrey Osotsi claimed that key consultations ahead of the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting that ousted Sifuna were held at State House rather than within party structures.

“I am surprised that Senator Oburu told us he needed to consult further, yet the consultation was not with other key stakeholders in the party,” Osotsi said.

“Instead, they proceeded that night to State House to consult William Ruto, and that is why two of us did not attend the KNEC meeting in Mombasa.”

Osotsi claimed that he and Sifuna were awaiting feedback from ODM party leader, Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, on whether the NEC meeting would proceed as scheduled.

“We were waiting for feedback from Oburu as to whether the NEC meeting in Mombasa is happening or not. I am surprised that they went ahead and made the very critical decision of removing Sifuna as ODM SG,” he added.

The NEC meeting in Mombasa recommended Sifuna’s removal as Secretary General, a move that has since triggered sharp divisions within the party.