Orengo confirms release of his staff who had been arrested
By Francis Muli, March 8, 2026Siaya Governor James Orengo has confirmed the release of his staff members who had been arrested by the police.
In a statement on Sunday, March 8, 2026, Orengo said the staff members were released without any charges, a matter he noted was preictable.
“Predictably, my staff who were arrested yesterday have been released without charge after 7 pm. I thank my colleagues for their courage and resilience in the face of intimidation and harassment. A luta continua,” Orengo stated.
Orengo indicated that the staff members were arrested on Saturday, March 7, 2026, in connection with President William Ruto’s visit to Siaya on Sunday.
According to the governor, some of the staff members were detained in Siaya while others were taken to Nairobi.
“This evening several members of my staff have been arbitrarily arrested and detained in Siaya and Nairobi in connection with the Presidential visit to Siaya tomorrow. This egregious conduct on the part of the police has no place in a constitutional democracy. I demand their immediate release,” Orengo stated on Saturday.
Ruto was in Siaya on Sunday with Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Oburu Odinga, with the president promising several development projects to the county.
“In Siaya County, development is advancing with a new stadium, a Level 5 hospital, 8,000 affordable housing units costing Ksh18 billion, hostels for 11,000 students at Ksh5.6 billion, 25 new markets at Ksh3.5 billion, electricity connections to 16,000 homes at Ksh1.6 billion, and new roads. These interventions are transforming Siaya alongside nationwide development, creating opportunities and improving livelihoods for residents,” Ruto said.
This comes at a time the Orange party is divided in the middle, with the faction led by Oburu supporting Ruto’s re-election, while the other faction, where Orengo is allied, opposing Ruto’s re-election in 2027.