Orengo Accuses Police of Arbitrary Arrests of Staff Ahead of Ruto's Siaya Tour
Siaya Governor James Orengo has accused authorities of arbitrarily detaining several members of his staff in both Siaya and Nairobi, just hours before President William Ruto's scheduled visit to the county.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Saturday evening, Orengo described the arrests as directly linked to preparations for the president's upcoming tour, labeling the police actions as egregious and unacceptable in a constitutional democracy. He specifically demanded the immediate and unconditional release of those detained, including his personal bodyguard and other aides, amid claims that the detentions were politically motivated.
The arrests have heightened tensions surrounding President Ruto's planned appearance in Siaya County on Sunday, where he is set to attend a thanksgiving ceremony for Medical Services Principal Secretary Dr. Ouma Oluga at Okela Primary School in Uyoma. Orengo, a vocal critic within the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) of the party's perceived closer ties with Ruto's United Democratic Alliance (UDA), framed the incident against the backdrop of ongoing internal party divisions. He has repeatedly opposed what he sees as a betrayal of ODM's legacy through cooperation with the ruling coalition.
This development coincides with broader political friction in ODM, including Orengo's rejection of an upcoming Special Delegates Convention and his characterization of the one-year anniversary of the Raila Odinga-Ruto political deal as a "day of betrayal and rage." While Orengo's faction plans alternative engagements elsewhere, such as in Makueni County, the arrests have drawn attention to allegations of intimidation aimed at suppressing dissent ahead of high-profile government events in opposition strongholds. No immediate official response from police or the national government has been reported regarding the claims.
