Siaya gubernatorial race is perceived to be a two horse race between James Orengo and former police spokesperson Charles Owino, but now ODM doesn’t want Orengo to vie.
ODM wants Orengo to shelve his Siaya gubernatorial ambitions and instead focus on the national politics.
ODM deputy party leader Wycliffe Oparanya while speaking during a radio interview in Kisumu said Orengo will be best placed to support ODM party leader Raila Odinga and other senior members at the national level.
“We need his political skills and knowledge of national politics, which is very crucial to us in the next year’s general election. I have told Orengo and it is on record that he is better off being senator at the national level. But as you know, politics is about personal interests,” said Oparanya.
Oparanya wants to Orengo to recapture his seat in 2022 general election, the Siaya senator made history in 2017 when he won his seat with overwhelming majority without even campaigning.
The ODM deputy party leader further stated that the governor position is quite demanding having served as Kakamega county boss for close to a decade.
Oparanya stressed that Orengo won’t be able to help ODM as much as he is needed if he is elected Siaya governor.
“I have been a governor for the last nine years and being a governor, especially in the rural areas when you’ve been staying in Nairobi for a long period all your life, becomes very tricky. Sometimes you have to sit down for 14 hours trying to resolve issues and go through papers,” Oparanya said.
Orengo is keen to succeed outgoing Siaya governor Cornel Rasanga who is serving his second and last term as county boss.
The race to succeed Rasanga has attracted many aspirants including; former police spokesperson Charles Owino, former Rarieda MP Nicholas Gumbo, Ugunja MP Opiyo Wandayi and Siaya deputy governor James Okumbe.
Related: Devolution Has Punished Me And Now Its Coming For You – Mukomen Tells Orengo
