•He pledged to employ only competent people to help him achieve results.
•Orengo, whose running mate is businessman William Oduol, unveiled a nine-point agenda focusing on food security, water and resources, health, infrastructure, and youth and women empowerment.
Image: JOSIAH ODANGA
Siaya governor hopeful James Orengo has dismissed opinion poll findings showing he is trailing his rival Nicholas Gumbo, saying he will easily win the race on August 9.
Orengo said pollsters who put his opponent ahead were fake.
“I have been in many races and this is the easiest one that I am fighting. Forget fake opinion polls,” Orengo said.
He spoke at Jaramogi Oginga Odinga University of Science and Technology in Bondo during the launch of his campaign manifesto on Monday.
Orengo said ODM is worried and concerned about who is going to be the next governor of Siaya.
“This is Raila Odinga's home county. The governor of Siaya must come from ODM,” he said.
The Siaya Senator said the UDM party, on which Gumbo is running is not for the people of Siaya.
“I don't know why a person would join a party like that and leave a party with a deep ideology like ODM,” he said.
Orengo said Siaya has numerous resources but they are not enough when no government is accountable to the people.
“Governments go wrong when there is no good governance. Success is not because of resources alone. You need a government free from corruption,” the senator said.
He said if elected governor, he will be a good administrator thus creating an enabling environment for investments.
He pledged to employ only competent people to help him achieve results.
Orengo, whose running mate is businessman William Oduol, unveiled a nine-point agenda focusing on food security, water and resources, health, infrastructure, and youth and women empowerment.
Other areas are job creation, quality education, tourism, culture and sports, good governance and public participation.
ODM national chairman John Mbadi reiterated Orengo’s sentiments saying ODM cannot afford to lose the governor's seat.
He said the Siaya electorate should elect Orengo and forget about what he termed as propaganda by opponents.
“Orengo wrote the current constitution which brought devolution. He can nurture it,” Mbadi said.
He said conditional grants to counties are only given to governors with a connection to the national government, another reason he wants Orengo elected.
Siaya senate candidate and Raila's elder brother Oburu Oginga urged voters to elect ODM candidates only.
Orengo said in his manifesto no one’s interest will go unnoticed during his reign.
The lawmaker said his administration will recognise the supremacy of the citizenry and embrace public participation.
“My government will promote full participation by all to ensure citizens are involved in crafting laws, budgets and policies,” Orengo's manifesto document read.
The outgoing county government has continued to be critiqued due to the controversial manner in which public participation has been conducted.
Present during the launch were MPs Gideon Ochanda (Bondo), Samuel Atandi (Alego Usonga), Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), and Elisha Odhiambo (Gem), Christine Ombaka (Woman Rep) and John Mbadi (Suba South).
Others were outgoing Governor Cornel Rasanga, Knut national secretary Collins Oyuu and Kuppet executive secretary Sam Opondo.
Edited by Kiilu Damaris