‘Do Not Leave It!’ – Governor Orengo Pressures Raila Against Negotiations With Ruto
Siaya Governor James Orengo has urged Members of Parliament from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) to reclaim what is rightfully theirs following the High Court’s momentous decision on Friday, February 7.
The court ruled on Friday to overturn National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula’s decision to proclaim President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza Coalition the majority in parliament.
Speaking on Saturday at the burial of Mzee Richard Ochieng Oloo, Orengo brazenly asserted that the High Court judgment virtually guaranteed ODM will win the 2022 elections.
“What the High Court said is a confirmation that election results announced in the last elections were not correct,” Orengo said.
“That is the confirmation. Raila’s party and coalition could not have got the majority of seats and lost the presidential elections.”
James Orengo: I have been in politics for many years, and I have never seen a regime as unpopular and hated as Kenya Kwanza. Kenyans will send them home in 2027 by 7 AM. pic.twitter.com/S2o9AGHhnW
— Cornelius K. Ronoh (@itskipronoh) February 9, 2025
The Siaya governor also delivered a message to ODM leaders, encouraging them to demand a majority in Parliament.
He added, “I am asking my party ODM, not to lose the court declaration that Azimio is the majority in parliament. Do not leave it. Instead of sitting at the table with whoever is in power, the court is giving you what belongs to you.”
Orengo was determined that ODM leaders should not negotiate with Kenya Kwanza allies following the High Court verdict.
Following the High Court ruling, some of the Kenya Kwanza government’s decisions under its claimed majority status have come under scrutiny.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula has come to the forefront, as he was the one who declared the Kenya Kwanza Coalition the majority party on October 6, 2022.
Wetang’ula claimed in his ruling that, after accounting for post-election agreements, Kenya Kwanza had 179 members and the Azimio alliance had 157.
Wetangula termed the High Court’s most recent verdict as “ordinary” through his lawyers, claiming that the court’s decision had no bearing on the current situation.
“I want to assure the nation and the Ford Kenya fraternity that there is no cause for alarm. What the court did was to make comments, which ordinarily is called per incuriam in law,” Wetangula’s team said.
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Wetang’ula underlined the dynamic nature of coalitions, stating, “Coalitions are not cast in stone and are an evolving arrangement that can occur both before and after elections.”
Following the ruling, 12 Kenyans filed a lawsuit claiming that the Azimio Coalition controlled the majority with 171 MPs, while the Kenya Kwanza Coalition had 156 parliamentarians.
With Parliament ready to return on Tuesday, the National Assembly is likely to reorganize 18 committees whose terms expire on Tuesday.
However, the High Court’s judgment has caused a wave of confusion over who will lead the committee.
‘Do Not Leave It!’ – Governor Orengo Pressures Raila Against Negotiations With Ruto
