SIAYA, Kenya — Siaya Governor James Orengo has defended his decision to seek the Linda Mwananchi presidential ticket, dismissing claims that his candidature is intended to undermine Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
Orengo confirmed in an interview with a local television station that he will compete against Sifuna for the coalition’s presidential nomination ahead of the 2027 General Election.
His declaration has unsettled sections of the opposition alliance, with some members maintaining that the question of the coalition’s flagbearer had already been settled.
“I am going to run for president, which is not a crime,” Orengo said. “In 2007 there was what was called the Pentagon within ODM. The five people who constituted the Pentagon were all presidential candidates.”
The Siaya governor rejected suggestions that his decision was aimed at derailing Sifuna’s ambitions, insisting that the coalition should embrace democratic competition before settling on a single candidate.
“I am not spoiling it, because I am committed to having one presidential candidate,” he said. “Those who are raising these fears are not democrats.”
Orengo Reveals Limuru Disagreement
Orengo also disclosed that his position on the presidential nomination caused disagreements among coalition principals during a retreat held in Limuru, Kiambu County.
He said the issue of choosing a presidential candidate was introduced as an agenda item, but he objected to discussions being concluded before wider consultations.
“The issue of a presidential candidate was brought as an agenda, but I said it was inappropriate at that time and that it needed more consultation,” he said. “Some people were unhappy about that.”
Orengo, who has served as Siaya governor since 2022, is one of Kenya’s longest-serving opposition politicians, having been involved in the country’s multiparty struggle in the 1990s.
His decision to enter the presidential race sets up an increasingly competitive nomination battle within Linda Mwananchi, with the coalition now facing the challenge of managing competing ambitions while maintaining unity ahead of the 2027 polls.
