SIAYA COUNTY – A deepening leadership crisis has engulfed Siaya County as both Governor James Orengo and his deputy William Oduol remain conspicuously absent from public duty, sparking widespread anxiety among residents and stalling critical county operations, including the approval of the 2025/2026 budget.
The unprecedented situation has prompted concerned resident Julius Oluoch to formally petition multiple government institutions, including the county assembly, Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission (EACC), and the Senate, accusing the county’s top leadership of abandoning their constitutional mandates.
According to the petition, Governor Orengo has been missing from public view for over a month, with his last confirmed public appearance being on June 23 when he testified before the Senate’s Public Accounts Committee.
The governor’s prolonged absence has created what critics describe as a “governance vacuum” that threatens essential county services and development projects.
The leadership vacuum stems from a deteriorated working relationship between Orengo and his deputy Oduol, leaving the county effectively rudderless.
Deputy Governor Oduol revealed that despite being cleared by the Senate following a turbulent impeachment attempt, Governor Orengo has refused to reinstate him to his official duties.
“Siaya today is on autopilot. The governor is away and has not handed over to his deputy to act in his absence, so no one knows what is going on in Siaya,” Oduol told local media, painting a picture of administrative paralysis.
Oduol further disclosed that his office has been completely disabled, with county staff directed not to communicate with him or take instructions from him.
He claims he is excluded from cabinet meetings, his benefits and allowances have been withdrawn, and he even funds his official county vehicle from his personal resources.
The crisis has been so severe that a fake resignation letter purporting to be from Governor Orengo’s office circulated on Monday morning, alleging the county chief was stepping down due to ill health.
The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party quickly flagged the document as fraudulent.
County Assembly Speaker George Okode has been seen presiding over key county functions in the absence of both the governor and deputy governor, including hosting Principal Secretary Jonathan Mueke during the commissioning of livestock investment projects worth Sh46 million.
However, Okode has dismissed claims of leadership abandonment as politically motivated, insisting the governor is on a private trip but not neglecting his duties.
The petition highlights broader governance failures, pointing to Orengo’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.
These critical vacancies have further complicated the county’s ability to manage its financial affairs effectively.
Constitutional lawyer Evans Ogada, who specializes in administrative law, downplayed the legal implications of the governor’s absence, stating that legally, both positions remain filled despite the public absence of the office holders.
Political analyst Samuel Owida emphasized the gravity of the situation, noting that the absence of both the governor and deputy creates confusion and anxiety in governance.
“Anyone charged with public responsibility, including elected leaders, is owned by the public, and all that happens around them must be accounted for,” Owida said.
The leadership crisis comes at a critical time when the county needs stable governance to address development challenges and ensure effective service delivery to residents.
With the 2025/2026 budget approval hanging in the balance, the prolonged absence of key decision-makers threatens to disrupt essential county programs and projects.
As residents await clarity on their leadership situation, the petition signals growing public demand for accountability and transparency in county governance, with calls for formal investigations into the stability of Siaya’s leadership structure gaining momentum.
