Orengo opens up on life after Raila: 'I have not come to terms'

Siaya Governor James Orengo. /SIAYA GOVERNOR/X

Siaya Governor James Orengo has opened up on the political and emotional vacuum left by the death of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, saying he has not fully come to terms with the absence of the veteran opposition leader.

‎Orengo said Raila died believing the country’s reform agenda remained incomplete.

‎Speaking during an interview on the Obinna Show Live, Orengo reflected on Raila’s final political years and defended his decision to engage President William Ruto’s administration through dialogue and bipartisan talks.

‎Asked whether he had accepted that “Baba is no longer there,” Orengo said he still found it difficult because Raila remained deeply committed to pushing for reforms until his death.

‎“I have not really come to terms, because all the time the late Raila stated regularly that there’s still business to be done,” Orengo said.

‎According to the Siaya governor, Raila consistently believed that many reforms envisioned under the 2010 Constitution had not been fully implemented despite years of political struggle.

‎“Changes that we anticipated to be well in place under the new constitution are not quite in place,” he stated.

‎Orengo explained that Raila’s willingness to occasionally work with governments he strongly opposed was driven by the desire to secure reforms and improve governance rather than political compromise.

‎“That’s why Baba sometimes would cross the floor to talk to whatever administration to try and make things better,” he said.

‎He cited Raila’s engagement with President Ruto’s administration through the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) talks and the opposition’s 10-point agenda as examples of his continued reform push after losing elections.

‎“Under the Ruto government, there was the NADCO report, the 10-point agenda, all that,” Orengo said.

‎“I think he was trying to say, okay, we didn’t make it in the elections, but we could use the demonstrations in place to try and get some of those changes.”

‎Raila died in October 2025 while undergoing treatment in Kerala, India, ending a political career that shaped Kenya’s opposition politics and reform movement for decades.

‎His death triggered national mourning and renewed debate about the future of ODM and the broader reform movement he led for years.