Siaya County is teetering on the edge of a leadership standoff after both Governor James Orengo and his Deputy William Oduol came under sharp criticism for allegedly being away from office for an extended period.
Concerns are now mounting over their prolonged absence, which a local resident claims has disrupted critical county operations and created a worrying leadership gap.
In a formal petition submitted to key state institutions, citizen Julius Oluoch has accused the county’s top leadership of dereliction of duty. According to him, Governor Orengo has been notably missing from public engagements for more than a month.
This, he says, has led to serious delays, such as the failure to approve the county’s 2025/2026 budget—an essential process for county operations and service delivery.
To make matters worse, Deputy Governor Oduol has reportedly been sidelined from official duties, sparking speculation that tensions between the two leaders could be contributing to a deeper governance breakdown.
“For over one month, the governor has been visibly absent, resulting in a halt in major activities like the approval of the 2025/2026 budget,” read the petition.
The petitioner didn’t stop there. Oluoch further criticized the administration for failing to appoint a County Executive Committee Member for Finance for over nine months and leaving the office of the Chief Officer for Finance vacant for nearly three years.
He argues that these prolonged vacancies have crippled financial decision-making in the county and pointed to a broader leadership vacuum.
Oluoch submitted his petition to several bodies, including the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), the Senate, and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party, seeking a formal inquiry into the alleged leadership failures.
While Siaya County Assembly Speaker George Okode has attempted to calm the storm, saying that the governor is away on a private mission and not neglecting his responsibilities, Oluoch insists this explanation is insufficient.
The Speaker is reported to have stepped in to perform county functions, including hosting the Siaya Pre-Devolution Conference held on July 3, and launching several development initiatives.
However, the petitioner isn’t buying the Speaker’s justification. Oluoch claims that having the Speaker assume the governor’s duties without a formal announcement or legal delegation undermines constitutional norms.
“The constitution does not support the prolonged absence or inactivity of top county executives without transparency or lawful delegation,” he stated in his petition.
This unfolding saga paints a troubling picture for Siaya, raising serious questions about leadership accountability, service delivery, and governance at the county level. With pressure now mounting from multiple quarters, all eyes are on the relevant oversight bodies to determine the next course of action.
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