Petitioners want governor Orengo declared unfit to hold public office

By Peter Ochieng

Three residents of Siaya County have expressed dissatisfaction with governor James Bob Orengo's leadership.

They have petitioned the High Court, seeking to have the first term county boss declared unfit to hold public office, so that his deputy takes over.

The borne of contention is what they term as Orengo's 'mistreatment' of his deputy, William Oduol.

According to Peter Odhiambo, Erick Onyango and Elizabeth Akinyi, Oduol's rights are being violated, which is against the spirit of the 2010 constitution.

Through their lawyer Edward Nyakeriga, the three want the deputy governor's privileges restored.

"The deputy governor does not have a chase car, which he is entitled to; his security has been withdrawn, leaving him exposed. He is a public servant who is supposed to perform his constitutional duties," he said as quoted by the Nation.

Last week, Oduol claimed he was blocked from attending a cabinet meeting at the County headquarters.

"It is so sad that we have come this far. I was blocked by security officers and some thugs on my way to the Governor's Council Chamber where the meeting was to be held," he told the press.

He added, "If the meeting had been held at Mr Orengo's home in Nyawara, I would not have bothered to attend, but any cabinet meeting held at the headquarters is a constitutional mandate for the deputy governor to attend."

Orengo and Oduol were elected on the ODM party ticket in August, 2022.

They have been at logger heads for a while now, after Oduol accused his boss of corruption.

The DG was summoned by the Siaya County Assembly over his allegations.

He failed to appear but sent documents aimed at what he said was to substantiate his claims.