Which way, Siaya? Orengo under fire as MCAs threaten to impeach governor
By Aloys Michael, April 16, 2026A fresh political storm is brewing in Siaya County after Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) threatened to initiate impeachment proceedings against Governor James Orengo, citing stalled development projects and failure to implement key programmes.
The ward representatives accuse the county executive of failing to roll out meaningful development initiatives in the current financial year, despite the Assembly approving the necessary budget allocations.
Central Gem Ward MCA Sylas Madingu raised the concerns on the floor of the House, noting that most wards have yet to witness any tangible development despite earlier commitments and approvals.
Madingu warned that the delays risk placing MCAs in a politically precarious position as residents grow increasingly frustrated over the lack of progress, pointing out that with only a few weeks remaining before the close of the financial year, procurement processes for many approved projects are yet to be completed.
According to him, a prior consultative meeting had resolved that all projects would be tendered by January 2026, a timeline he says has not been met.
“Noting with concern, Mr Speaker, that with barely two months to the close of the financial year, the county executive has failed, neglected and refused to procure and award a substantial number of procurement projects approved in the same budget,” Madingu stated.
Siaya County Speaker George Okode has since directed the County Executive to formally respond to the concerns before the Assembly considers any further action. He stressed the importance of accountability, warning that the House would not ignore issues raised by elected leaders regarding service delivery failures.
Frustrations are not limited to a single ward, with several MCAs echoing similar concerns. They accuse the executive of neglecting critical projects such as roads, water systems, and early childhood development centres.
Some members further claim that stalled initiatives, including a multimillion-shilling water project, have not even reached the procurement stage despite earlier public assurances that progress had been made.
In response, the Assembly has resolved to summon senior county officials, including chief officers and procurement directors, to explain the delays and present clear timelines for implementation.
The mounting pressure comes at a time when Governor Orengo has positioned himself as a vocal critic of the national government under the Linda Mwananchi brigade.
Siaya row
The movement is also openly opposed to a faction within ODM that supports working with the government against the Linda Ground faction led by Siaya Senator Oburu Oginga, who took over party leadership following the death of Raila Odinga in October 2025. Since then, ODM has been split into two camps: one backing President Ruto’s re-election bid and another pushing for his removal from power.
Meanwhile, Orengo’s critics argue that his political activism risks pushing the region back into opposition politics, potentially denying it the benefits of being aligned with the government.
“I want to caution those telling this community about a revolution. There is a debate going on in this part of the country. Orengo has been talking about revolution. And you know, Orengo has been talking about revolution from Jomo Kenyatta’s time up to now. And there is our brother Oburu, who is saying, ‘We want power to transform our people.’ So, I want to plead with you, go for power any day. Don’t be lied to about opposition,” Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot said.
Moreover, Orengo is also facing growing scrutiny from leaders within his broader political circle, including criticism from Energy CS Opiyo Wandayi.
Amid the escalating tensions, Alego Usonga MP Samuel Atandi has urged MCAs to abandon the impeachment push, arguing that voters should ultimately determine the governor’s fate in the next general election.
Atandi cautioned that pursuing impeachment at this stage would be unnecessary, especially with the next polls approaching, and warned against shifting focus away from service delivery priorities.