Osotsi says Orengo would defeat Oburu in direct contest
By Emmanuel Rono, April 27, 2026Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi has asserted that Siaya Governor James Orengo would easily defeat Oburu Oginga in a direct leadership contest, despite ongoing efforts between the factions to resolve their issues.
Speaking during an interview with a local media on Monday, April 27, 2026, Osotsi revealed that rival factions have been reaching out to his side in an attempt to resolve the standing issues through unity talks.
However, he made it clear that their participation is contingent on one non-negotiable demand: the holding of competitive, free, and fair national elections.
“I want to tell you these fellows have been reaching out to us. To try and resolve the issue. But we have given conditions. The first condition is that we must have elections, national elections, competitive, free and fair national elections. Not stage managed,” Osotsi said.
Linda Mwananchi has numbers
Osotsi expressed their confidence in Orengo’s popularity within the party, suggesting that the membership of the party clearly supports their side in a fair and straight contest.
According to Osotsi, their current political faction now controls 30 out of 47 counties, including the support of the respective county chairs.
“You can see where the membership of the party belongs. in a fair straight contest, James would beat. Right now we control 30 counties, ” Orengo noted.
ODM people’s party leader
James Orengo while speaking in Kisumu on Friday, April 24, 2026 declared the “people’s party leader” within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), accusing the current party leadership of soiling the legacy of the late Raila Odinga.
He claimed that the Linda Mwananchi faction remains the last steady wheel holding together the Orange party, which he said is an under growing threat from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
“ODM is being sold to our political enemies so I will stand firm…Orengo is the people’s party leader within ODM to make sure ODM is not swallowed, and secondly to make sure that the legacy and the achievements of Raila Amollo Odinga are not destroyed,” he said.
Need to Odinga’s party
Orengo emphasised that his stance was aimed at protecting the political legacy of Raila Odinga and ensuring that the party’s achievements are not eroded or diluted by internal divisions or external influence.
“We must make sure that the legacy and achievements of Raila are not destroyed and that the reach of ODM is not diminished,” he said.
He further insisted that ODM, as one of Kenya’s largest political parties, should not be relegated to a subordinate role in any political arrangement.
“ODM cannot become a junior partner to a party that needed ODM. It is not ODM that needed the union; we must remain the dominant party,” Orengo added.