Siaya Governor James Orengo was notably absent on Wednesday as Senator Oburu Oginga convened a consultative meeting with a section of the county’s leadership ahead of Saturday’s anticipated ‘Linda Ground’ rally.
In a statement following the meeting, Senator Oburu said he had engaged key leaders from the county as part of preparations to mobilise support and consolidate grassroots structures ahead of the political event.
One of the leaders present was the Siaya Deputy Governor who has been embroiled in a fight with Orengo over his leadership since they got elected into office and has been positioning himself to challenge the governor for the seat in 2027.
“Today I held a consultative session with a powerful cross-section of Siaya leadership. Present were, Deputy Governor William Oduol and legislators Christine Ombaka (Siaya County Woman Representative), Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), and David Ochieng’ (Ugenya), the party is signalling a unified and disciplined front as it prepares to engage the grassroots,” Oburu Oginga said.
However, the absence of Governor Orengo comes at a time when political alignments within Siaya County remain under close scrutiny ahead of the weekend rally.
Neither the Governor nor his office had publicly commented on his absence by the time of publication.
While the broader ODM has been in support of Oburu and the broadbased government, a faction led by Orengo, Secretary General Edwin Sifuna and Embakasi East MP Babu Owino has been campaigning against working with the William Ruto led Kenya Kwanza administration.
The three, among others from the Orange party a few days ago launched an outfit dubbed Linda Mwananchi tour that has been holding parallel countrywide rallies asking Kenyans to reject President William Ruto's re-election bid.
While Linda Ground faction will be in Orengo home turf, the Linda Mwananchi faction will be holding its own rally in Kakamega County.
The team has already held massive rallies in Busia and Kitengela where police had to use teargas to disperse the crowds that had gathered to listen to them.
