Orengo condemns chaos at burial of MP Nyikal’s father, blames ‘hired goons’

In a statement issued after the drama, Orengo said he had gone to Ridore Primary School to pay his last respects to Eliud Nyikal Okaka, the father of Seme MP James Nyikal, when the service was interrupted.

“It is both shameful and a national disgrace that a solemn send off could be disrupted… (with) goons,” Orengo said.

He claimed the situation became so tense that clergy were forced to cut the service short and call for an immediate burial without speeches “to preserve order and dignity.”

“No amount of intimidation, no teargas, no hired chaos, and no acts of desperation will silence the Linda Mwananchi Movement,” he added.

Orengo’s remarks come a day after chaos erupted at the burial, with a section of mourners demanding that he leaves the venue before proceedings could continue.

Witnesses said the mood turned hostile as speeches went on, with some youths moving towards the front row occupied by MPs, governors, senators and other leaders, chanting for Orengo to exit.

The governor, who is a leading figure in the linda mwananci faction of the ODM party, was forced to leave the venue before normalcy was restored after clergy intervened.

“Why can’t we just mourn in peace… must we come surrounded by large crowds,” Nyikal lamented.

After Orengo’s departure, speeches continued, with ODM chairperson Gladys Wanga reiterating that ODM is firmly in the broad-based government and accusing the rival camp of seeking to split the party.

“ODM is in the broad-based government… ODM will form the next government in 2027 or will be part of the coalition that forms the next government,” Wanga said.

Migori Governor Ochillo Ayacko urged unity, saying the party must remain strong, while Kisumu Woman Representative Ruth Odinga called for dialogue between the two sides.

“We must face the reality we cannot continue with these two groups… come intervene and let the two groups sit down together,” she said.