Siaya County Governor James Orengo has vowed to continue mounting pressure on President William Ruto’s administration despite criticism from a section of leaders allied to him.

Addresssing a section of residents in Bondo, Siaya County on Saturday, May 4, 2025, Orengo affirmed that no amount of threats would deter him from speaking his truth, emphasising that he has endured enough trials and tribulations to navigate the murky political waters.

He also confidently assured that Kenya will not falter under his watch by concealing the truth from the people.

“The truth shall set you free and in matters leadership countrywide and continentally that believes in the law, constitution and the truth; and as James Orengo, I believe in law and the constitution. I am one who has been trained by Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and I have worked with Raila Odinga, I am one of the few people who saw Tom Mboya in action, I didn’t just hear stories, I am one who sat with Argwings Kodhek, the first lawyer in the first republic of Kenya. I cannot let Kenya or my community down by not speaking the truth.

“If there is anybody who wants to take any action against me, I want to them I have been through those trials and tribulations. I recently said no one has ever gotten votes like Raila in presidential elections since 2007. Every year he gets votes but some people engage in election fraud and propaganda,” he said.

The county chief equally weighed in on the country’s election process, calling on the Nyanza region not to relent on calls for free and fair elections. The outspoken county head remarked that it is time Kenya practices its democracy free from fraud perpetrated by certain leaders.

“Raila has never gotten votes because of election misconduct and unfair court rulings, we have to rectify this without interfering with the constitution because everything has been clearly indicated. Don’t be content and relent from pursuing fair elections because one of you is governor or CS. For us to succeed as Nyanza, we need to ensure that we rectify the electoral issues to safeguard future votes.”

Orengo’s comments come amid heightened criticism from leaders allied to the government over his sustained condemnation of Ruto’s policies.

With the heightened criticism Raila Odinga stepped in to defend Orengo and his and his Kisumu counterpart Anyang Nyong’o, who also came under fire over criticism of the broad-based government.

In his remarks on Friday, April 25, 2025, Raila stated that the governors were within their democratic rights in expressing their opinions.

Raila noted that the ODM duo made their views public over a topic that his party has been championing.

“I said we are in a democracy, and in a democracy, everyone has a right to expression. As ODM, we decided to enter into an agreement with the government. That doesn’t mean we have all become part of the government,” Raila clarified.

“There is no coalition between UDA and ODM, but an arrangement which was based on an MOU signed between us in the open daylight; there are 10 clear points. So I don’t see why people are bickering. When James Orengo talks, he is talking on the basis of the MOU between ODM and UDA. Orengo has not committed any crime; he has a democratic right to say what he said. When Nyongo talks about devolution, he is talking the language of ODM,” he stated.