Siaya Governor James Orengo now finds himself between a rock and a hard place after his continued opposition to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party’s stand, especially its decision to enter into coalition talks with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

This has now seen the entire ODM brigade launch a manhunt against him. For the first-term governor, his re-election in 2027 now seems to be at stake.

During the Linda Ground forum, which took place a few metres away from his Siaya County offices at Ahidi Grounds on Saturday, February 21, 2026, and was graced by party leader Oburu Odinga, the gathering turned into a forum for decampaigning Orengo.

Gumbo’s ODM comeback

The party leader and his senator, Oburu, came out to hold the hand of his competitor, Nicholas Gumbo, who defected from the party after his fallout with it and ran on a different ticket. Oburu went ahead to welcome him back to the party, which sounded like a direct endorsement of his 2027 Siaya gubernatorial bid.

“There is one person from Siaya who has been out of our party for a while, though he was a founder member. He is called Nicholas Gumbo, and I want to welcome him to the party.”

At that point, Orengo was in Kakamega County, where he had joined his fellow rebels within the ODM party, led by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, for the Linda Mwananchi forum.

At Oburu’s forum, each speaker, mostly the broad-based cabinet secretaries from the region, led by energy cabinet secretary Opiyo Wandayi, came out to spell doom for Orengo’s re-election.

He stated that he does not know who will be the next governor of Siaya, but he is sure it will not be Orengo.

Mbadi decampaigning Orengo

Mbadi followed suit. He accused Orengo of being absent and abdicating his gubernatorial duties, focusing on national politics at the expense of his core functions in the county.

“We elected a governor, but he is now missing in action. Our governor has left Siaya and is now moving around outside the county,” Mbadi stated.

“I cannot talk about the incoming governor, but what I am sure of is the governor who will not secure another term in office.”

He added that Orengo has been heavily critical of and opposing the Oginga family since the time of Jaramogi Oginga Odinga and even Raila Odinga, when he opposed him in 1997, and now, according to Mbadi, he is busy fighting Oburu.

“He caused trouble for Jaramogi and even Raila. Such a person does not deserve to be elected again.”

Other leaders, such as Suna East MP Junet Mohammed, followed suit, calling for Orengo’s rejection at the ballot. He led the highly charged crowd in singing anti-Orengo chants.

Will he survive?

The one-billion-dollar question remains: will Orengo, a veteran politician of his stature and a rabble-rouser, manage this wave? Especially in a country where even slight opposition to a party that enjoys regional influence has always met with devastating consequences.

Will he follow in the footsteps of the now chairman of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC), Isaac Ruto, who lost his seat after trying to go against Ruto?

Orengo’s political woes

This comes at a time when critics of the Siaya governor argue that his political troubles go beyond party realignments. Some claim that Orengo’s performance in office has been underwhelming compared to his peers in the Nyanza region, adding that dissatisfaction at the grassroots could cost him his seat regardless of which political camp he aligns with.

Others suggest that his recent increased presence in national politics signals a shift in focus away from county affairs, interpreting it as a strategy to remain politically relevant beyond the governorship.