Siaya Governor James Orengo has warned that political bribery, violence and intimidation could undermine the credibility of Kenya's 2027 General Election, urging leaders to safeguard the Constitution and ensure the country holds free, fair and credible polls.
Speaking during a church service in Kisumu on Sunday, Orengo also dismissed claims of divisions within the Linda Mwananchi movement, insisting opposition leaders remain united as they prepare for the next electoral contest.
Orengo cautioned against what he described as growing displays of unexplained wealth by public officials, saying Kenyans should question the source of large sums of money being distributed during public fundraisers and empowerment programmes.
"This money does not belong to the people who carry this money. This money belongs to you," he said.
He argued that public officials are required to account for their wealth, adding that institutions such as the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC) should investigate unexplained riches.
"The law of the land is that if you have unexplained resources or wealth, the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission should investigate into that source," he said.
Orengo further claimed that excessive cash donations were being used to influence politics rather than genuinely empower citizens.
"Please let us tell these people they should not be using our money to bribe us or to pretend that they are doing things for society. If you want to help the people, it can be done through investments, through proper projects," he said.
Turning to opposition politics, the Siaya governor rejected claims that the Linda Mwananchi movement was fractured, saying Senator Sifuna's presence at the event demonstrated that its leaders remained united.
"The presence of Sifuna today is to put you to shame that we are together and we are walking together, and we shall never be divided," Orengo said.
He also defended the Nairobi senator, describing him as one of ODM's strongest leaders outside party leader Raila Odinga and Kisumu Governor Anyang' Nyong'o, while urging him to remain steadfast despite internal disagreements.
"Sifuna, I want you to be strong. We are behind you, and people around this community are behind you, and we are together as a movement," he said.
Orengo called for opposition unity ahead of the 2027 elections, saying Kenya needed leaders who are "patriotic, principled, well-mannered, and conscious of the needs of the people."
He warned that if the country witnessed the same levels of "bribery, violence and hate" that he alleged had characterised recent by-election in Ol Kalou, the credibility of the next General Election would be at risk.
"If elections are going to be what we are seeing in Ol Kalou then probably we'll have no election next year," Orengo said. "We'll sit down to make sure that we get the promises of this Constitution, so that Kenya is stable and prosperous on the foundation of the Constitution of Kenya."
Speaking at the same event, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna echoed calls for unity, urging ODM supporters to remain faithful to the ideals championed by the late Raila Odinga despite internal disputes.
"We have said that we must remain united. If you ever believed in the things that Baba used to believe in, we must all remain united," Sifuna said.
He dismissed attempts to drive a political wedge between Nyanza and Western Kenya, insisting that differences within ODM stem from individuals rather than communities.
"As a community, we know that you have always stood for justice. You have always stood for what is right, and we believe that we can continue to work together," he said.