Siaya Deputy Governor expelled from ODM

Siaya Monday May 29, 2023

KNA by Philip Onyango 

Siaya Deputy Governor, William Oduol, who has been at loggerheads with his boss, James Orengo over alleged mismanagement of the county has been expelled from the Orange Democratic Movement party. 

The party’s Siaya county branch officials who met in Siaya town Sunday resolved that the DG, William Oduol should be compelled to resign from his position since, they claimed, he no longer subscribes to the aspirations of the party. 

“Further, the committee resolved that he be expelled from the ODM membership effective today” the branch, in resolutions read by the county ODM organizing secretary, Walter Okello said Sunday after a protracted meeting.

Meeting under the chairmanship of the county ODM chairman, George Oloo Okanda, the branch further ratified the replacement of Bondo Member of Parliament, Gideon Ochanda as the Bondo sub branch secretary and his Gem counterpart, Elisha Odhiambo as the Gem sub branch patron. 

The branch said that Siaya county government was an ODM government and all elected and appointed officials are expected to act within the strict confines of the party rules and provisions. 

The officials said they have noted with concern the emerging trend where a few officials of the county government were prosecuting falsehoods in the media instead of exploring the available dispute resolution mechanisms within the party. 

“Such officials are therefore deemed to be working in cahoots with the UDA party and are therefore no longer recognized as members of the ODM” said the statement. 

The branch officials further took exception at what they termed as draconian antics of the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition agents of attempting to bait Siaya residents with food tokens so as to register as members of the United Democratic Alliance, UDA. 

They said that the efforts were suspiciously championed by government functionaries who do not retain the mandate of disaster management and response. 

The ODM branch said it supports the position adopted by Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance in its demand for the government to, among other things, reduce the high cost of living, allow electoral audit and opening of the servers and allow an inclusive process in the reconstitution of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission. 

“If there is no concurrence on the above issues, the Siaya ODM fraternity will fully support the calls for self-determination and secession as mooted by our party leader” they said. 

Governor Orengo and his deputy, William Oduol have been at logger heads for past three months, with the deputy accusing his boss of sitting quiet as a syndicate of corrupt employees fleece the county government. 

Oduol’s public accusations saw the county assembly of Siaya summon him to table evidence of the same, which he did but the assembly later threw them out as unsubstantiated. 

A motion seeking to impeach him is scheduled to be tabled in the county assembly tomorrow morning after the speaker, George Okode gazetted a special sitting of the assembly. 

This follows a notice given by East Asembo ward member of the county assembly, Gordon Onguru last week. 

Courtesy ; K. N. A