Siaya MCAs have launched an impeachment drive against Governor James Orengo following his remarks at a rally in Homa Bay. The move has shaken county politics and drawn sharp reactions from leaders across the region.
On May 18, Governor Orengo spoke during a public event in Homa Bay County, where comments directed at ODM national chairperson and Homa Bay Governor Gladys Wanga did not sit well with many. Siaya assembly members described the language as sexist and disrespectful to women in leadership. Within hours, tensions boiled over in Siaya.
Majority Leader Martin Otieno and Chief Whip Booker Bonyo led the charge. They announced an immediate boycott of all executive functions until Orengo issues a public apology.
Bonyo went further, telling fellow MCAs he would start collecting signatures for impeachment. “I’m going to collect signatures for Orengo to be impeached because we cannot have a rogue governor,” he said during the assembly discussions.
The swift response reflects deep frustrations bubbling beneath the surface in Siaya. Many women leaders in both Siaya and Homa Bay have voiced their disappointment. One Homa Bay women’s representative captured the mood clearly during a gathering.
“We want to say that what we heard the governor of Siaya saying about our governor, we are not happy about. We condemn it in the strongest terms possible,” she stated, calling for respect toward party leaders.
Rifts Within ODM Spark Wider Concern
The controversy has exposed cracks inside the Orange Democratic Movement’s Nyanza wing. Supporters of Governor Wanga see the remarks as an attack on hard-won progress for women in politics.
In Siaya town, small groups gathered near the county assembly to discuss the standoff. Local teacher Mary Akinyi shook her head as she spoke with neighbours. “A senior leader like Orengo should know better. These words touch every woman trying to make a difference here.”
Others worry about the practical effects on daily county business. With MCAs refusing to engage the executive, routine approvals and oversight meetings sit in limbo.
Farmers in areas like Ugunja and Uyoma, who rely on timely county support for seeds and water projects, wonder how long the freeze will last. One elder in the Bondo market summed it up. Politics aside, our roads still need fixing, and hospitals need medicine. They should sort this quickly.”
Governor Orengo has pushed back against calls for an apology. Speaking to journalists in Siaya, he suggested the comments needed to be seen in the broader flow of political talk. Yet the backlash continues to grow.
Kisumu MCAs have even urged the Council of Governors to step in and press for a formal apology, describing the words as demeaning and harmful to women’s participation.
County Governance Hangs in Balance
The impeachment process in Kenya requires a high threshold, usually two-thirds support in the assembly, before it heads to the Senate. Bonyo sounded confident he could whip up the numbers. Otieno echoed the demand for accountability, making clear the boycott would hold firm until Orengo addressed the matter directly.
This latest drama adds to a history of friction between the Siaya governor and his assembly. Past disagreements over project delays had already strained relations, though earlier talk of impeachment faded.
Residents in Siaya streets express mixed views. Some defend Orengo as a long-time fighter for justice who has delivered in other areas. Others say no one, regardless of experience, should use language that pulls women down. In Homa Bay, the reception Orengo received during the May 18 event reportedly turned frosty, with heckling from parts of the crowd.
As signatures circulate and meetings continue behind closed doors, the coming days will show whether this remains a loud warning or turns into a full-blown removal effort.
County workers and ordinary citizens watch closely, hoping the leaders remember the people caught in the middle. For now, the boycott leaves projects paused and questions hanging over how Siaya will handle its affairs in the weeks ahead.
