‘He has not committed any crime,’ Raila defends Governor Orengo amid fallout reports

The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party leader Raila Odinga has come to the defense of Siaya Governor James Orengo following his controversial speech in Siaya two weeks ago.

Orengo, speaking in Siaya during the burial of Odinga’s bodyaguard George Oduor, boldly told ODM supporters in front of the party boss and President William Ruto that they should stand up and fight for their rights.

“I cannot be a praise-singer. We fought for a democratic Constitution where people should speak freely. I urge Kenyans to tell their leaders the truth. This country will go to the dogs again if the kind of language we hear continues,” the Governor said then.

“If anything is brought to Siaya County, it will be as a matter of right, not as a favour. There is a need to fight got your rights and you will  still have a better country.”

Speaking on Friday at Kakwajwok village in Kendu Bay during the burial of Priscilla Koyo, the wife of the 6th Ker of the Luo community Koyo Opien, Odinga noted that by airing his opinion, Governor Orengo has not committed any crime.

He also defended Kisumu Governor Anyang’ Nyong’o’s take on devolution, after the county boss recently accused the national government of undermining devolution by clinging to functions that should be managed by counties.

The former Prime Minister insisted that the ties between him and President Ruto's government is basically on a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) basis.

“When Mr. James Orengo talks, he’s talking on the basis of MoU between ODM and UDA. He has not committed any crime, he’s got a democratic right to say what he wants to say. When Prof. Anyang Nyong’o speaks about devolution, he’s talking the language of ODM,” said Odinga.

Governor Nyong’o, in a statement on Tuesday, said the continued existence of the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KERRA) was unnecessary and a betrayal of the spirit of devolution enshrined in the 2010 Constitution.

Citing the problems facing healthcare in the country, he questioned the logic of the national government holding onto the management of road funds, noting that counties, unlike the former, have proven capable of handling key devolved functions such as healthcare.