Africa-Press – Kenya. Siaya could be facing a looming leadership crisis as Governor James Orengo and his deputy, William Oduol, face mounting pressure over their alleged prolonged absence from office.
A concerned resident has formally petitioned top government institutions, accusing the county’s two highest-ranking leaders of neglecting their constitutional mandates and, consequently, paralyzing vital county operations.
The petitioner, Julius Oluoch, claims Governor Orengo has been conspicuously absent from public view for over a month, leading to significant delays, including the critical approval of Siaya’s 2025/2026 budget.
This purported vacuum has been exacerbated by the strained relationship between Orengo and Oduol, with the deputy governor alleging he has been deliberately sidelined from official duties.
“For over one month, the governor has been conspicuously absent, leading to stalled key operations, including the approval of the 2025/2026 budget,” the petition reads.
The petitioner accused the duo of paralyzing the county-level operations and fostering an environment of governance crisis.
Oluoch’s petition highlights a broader governance crisis, pointing to the Governor’s failure to appoint a substantive County Executive Committee Member for Finance for nine months and a Chief Officer for Finance for nearly three years.
Oluoch petitioned the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, and the Senate.
While Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode has dismissed the claims as politically instigated, insisting the Governor is on a private trip but not neglecting duties, the petition signals a push for a formal investigation into the county’s leadership stability.
It is allegedly reported that the Speaker has been acting on behalf of the governor.
Okode is reportedly to have presided over county functions such as the commissioning of several processes in the county and the Siaya Pre-Devolution Conference, which happened on July 3.
The Speaker, at a public address, stated that the governor was on a private trip defending his role to stand in for the county bosses.
According to the petitioner, the Speaker’s statement is reckless since it violates constitutional principles of power separation.
“The constitution does not contemplate the prolonged vacancy or dormancy of such key executive offices without clear communication to the public or lawful delegation,” part of the petition reads.
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