- Siaya Governor James Orengo publicly condemned what he described as coordinated attacks targeting Ida Odinga
- Orengo accused unnamed individuals of attempting to erase Raila Odinga's legacy after selling out the party
- The governor invoked a Luo proverb to characterise those he blamed for the attacks on the Odinga family
Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Siaya - Governor James Orengo has spoken out against what he called organised and targeted attacks on Ida Odinga, wife of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, accusing those behind the campaign of treachery and political betrayal.
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Orengo, one of ODM's most prominent figures, said he was deeply unsettled by the nature and scale of the assault on Ida Odinga's character and reputation.
"I am shocked and extremely disturbed by the coordinated and mobilized attacks against H.E Canon Ida Odinga," the governor said in a statement on Monday, October 19.
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Orengo's defence of Ida Odinga
The Siaya governor was emphatic that Ida Odinga's role in Kenya's political history extended far beyond her marriage to the ODM leader. He described her as a combatant in the broader fight against oppression and unjust governance, framing the attacks against her as an affront to that legacy.
"Ida Odinga was not just Raila's wife but a fighter in the struggle against oppression, injustice and despotism," Orengo said.
He further alleged that the hostile language now being used against the Odinga family had been building quietly even while Raila was still in public life, suggesting the hostility is not new but had previously been suppressed.
Accusations of betrayal within ODM
Orengo directed his sharpest criticism at individuals he described as mercenaries within the party, accusing them of having sold out ODM and now seeking to consign Raila Odinga's political legacy to irrelevance.
"The vitriol and propaganda directed against the Raila Odinga family smacks of treachery and betrayal. The language used by the mercenaries was slowly seeping on the surface even when Jakom was still alive. They have sold the Party and now want to throw Raila Odinga's legacy to the dustbin of history. It will never happen," he said.
The governor closed his statement with a Luo proverb, "Wang' mi chiedho ema gawi," which translates to the Swahili phrase "Asante ya punda ni mateke" — meaning ingratitude is the reward of the foolish, a pointed rebuke aimed at those he holds responsible for the attacks.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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