Kenya: Nyanza Leaders Urge Orengo to Quit Politics After Presidential Bid Declaration

What the report says

Nyanza leaders have called on Siaya Governor James Orengo to step back from active politics after he announced he would seek Kenya’s presidency in the 2027 election, according to Capital FM as distributed by AllAfrica. The remarks were made in Nyanza, where debate over Orengo’s political future has sharpened alongside broader realignments ahead of the next polls.

Ugenya MP David Ochieng said Orengo, a veteran opposition figure, should make room for younger politicians and follow the example of contemporaries who have already left frontline politics. Ochieng also accused the governor of contradicting the democratic values he has long defended, alleging that he has tried to restrict the freedoms of supporters of President William Ruto in the region.

The comments followed Orengo’s recent public declaration that he is ready to contest the presidency in 2027. Ochieng said political differences with the national government should not keep Nyanza in permanent confrontation and argued that the region needs a more development-focused approach. His remarks were made during a church fundraiser at St Anne’s Sega Catholic Church grounds for Sega Girls Secondary School.

Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi, who attended the event, also warned against turning Nyanza into a political battleground and said political competition should not lead to violence. He expressed concern about reports of armed youths moving around with politicians. The exchange highlights growing tensions in Nyanza as leaders position themselves for the 2027 election cycle.