Orengo breaks silence on his deputy's graft claims

It is now an all-out war between Siaya Governor James Orengo and his deputy William Oduol.

In a bare-knuckle attack, Orengo on Sunday hit out at his deputy accusing him of allegedly being bankrolled by opponents to ruin his reputation.

Orengo while attending church service in Siaya town claimed Oduol has been receiving funding to destabilise his eight months administration.

He didn't disclose the source of the said funding but insisted his deputy was receiving the cash to persistently destroy his reputation and speak ill of his administration while disparaging his style of leadership at the county government of Siaya.

"He has touched the red line and I will not allow him to propagate lies about me or my administration," he said.

Orengo said he has spent several years building his name which earned him respect across the country and he is not ready to embrace any scheme by Oduol to tarnish his reputation.

Orengo accused his DG of using the media and funeral gatherings to not only talk ill against him but also to soil his reputation using what he described as non-existent allegations.

"Oduol whom I helped to rise to the position of DG has now turned out to be a thorn in my flesh. He claims to have catalysed my gubernatorial candidature but forgets that I was first elected just when fresh from school," said Orengo

The governor said his deputy failed in his bid to become governor in 2013 and had never secured any elective position and should not brag in public that he contributed more votes towards his victory.

"It's our name that market us and so those out to tarnish it are inviting my wrath," said Orengo.

He urged his supporters and residents to rebuke Oduol.

"Even Jesus recommended whipping those who turned the church into a market. Don't whip him physically but use words to rebuke him," he said.

Orengo said he has fought many political battles and including a case that saw the sitting president's presidential victory overturned and won't be derailed by his deputy.

"I want the public to tell him off whenever he speaks ill of me - whether in funerals or any public gatherings," Orengo stressed.

But when reached to comment on his boss's assertions, Oduol accused Orengo of engaging in populist politics.

" I have listened to him. He is engaged in populist politics. He must focus on the substantive issues. We are talking about theft in his administration. It is unfortunate he said this in church. He is aiding corruption," Oduol said.

Oduol said that he was not surprised that the governor was insinuating that he is being funded by some quarters.

"This is the usual diversionary politics they are used to. I caught them and their hands in the cookie jar," he said.

He claimed that Orengo’s finance CEC even agreed with him that they indeed were using imprest and had withdrawn Sh65m by the end of January.

"His CEC went further and mentioned that they only withdrew Sh3.1 million and Sh2.5 million in February and March respectively before they closed the imprest account altogether," Oduol said.

"The question I ask is, why were they withdrawing over Sh40 million per month in the past? This was theft," he said.

Oduol wondered how come withdrawals in February and March were reasonable only after he started making noise.

"Through the noise I made, I have managed to save the people of Siaya from this theft. This is the accountability we have been talking about," he said.

He said he will not rest until the people of Siaya get the services they need.

Oduol said he is ready to face the assembly's select Committee probing allegations facing him with a view to having him impeached.

The committee will give him the opportunity to defend himself on Tuesday.

East Asembo MCA Gordon Onguru moved a motion to have Oduol impeached on allegations of gross misconduct, a gross violation of the constitution and abuse of office.

38 MCAs supported the notice of impeachment motion and speaker George Okode formed a 14-member committee to probe Onguru's allegations.